PdxMan

One thing to know, though, is that "cruel" amount of weight you lost in the first week was not fat, but rather water and glycogen. (a wee bit of fat, of course) Once you get past the first week or so, then you are burning the fat (and muscle ... get your protein in) Just keep following the guidelines. The weight will come off.

I totally agree. As I pointed out, they are the only folks I have told outside my family ... those struggling with weight issues themselve. I do feel we have a responsibility to them.

Huh? You're saying that by me not sharing a personal decision with the public I re-enforce people's dieting issues and associated guilt? I'm fairly confident the public knows about WLS ... Can you expand on your thoughts?

For me, it is all about the choices I make. If I eat 5 crackers, 10 minutes later, I can eat 5 more. Not a good choice, but I do allow myself a cracker or four now and again. Let's take those same crackers and add a slice of deli meat and a baby belle cheese. I can eat 4 of those and NOT eat another for at least an hour. Protein fills me up and gives me that feeling longer. It keeps me from snacking and making bad decisions.

You have to remember there is a difference between weight gain and FAT gain. Did you gain fat? Highly doubt it. (Generally accepted) Consume 3,500 more calories than you burn, you gain 1 pound, burn 3,500 calories more than you consume, you lose a pound. So ... in that period of time, do you think you consumed 7,000 more calories than you burned? Yeah, didn't think so.

Why do you have to say anything to them? This is a personal decision, not a public one. When people ask how I have lost my weight, I tell them through reduced portion sizes and exercise. It's the truth. I don't tell people how I am able to only have two kids (vasectomy) I don't tell people how I am able to see without glasses (lasik) I don't tell people how I am able to ... (fill in the blank) My weight loss is not out there for public consumption. My wife and family know, and a couple friends who battle weight issues and are considering it. I told them because I know their struggle and want them to know there is a tool to help them. But that's it.

Don't buy too many. It is also known as IsoPuke here on VST. It just doesn't work for some folk.

I'm just dying to know if you have spoken to her since. I'm guessing she will have some other snappy come-back justifying her actions yet still questioning yours, as I have found some people play the God card to wield His power as they see fit. Which just cracks me up. Let's elevate ourselves to cast judgement, yet not be judged. I know it is a defense mechanism, but it still kills me.

Well, if you read all of your posts objectively in this thread, you have your answer: "Most of the time, I don't get all my Protein." "I know I don't drink enough water" " I am a nanny for two little girls who like to snack all day" Instead of eating carp, get good things to snack on. What are you teaching them by allowing to snack all day? If you stay compliant to the guidelines, IMO, it is easier.

Grab any soup and blenderize the carp out of it. Worked for me.

Woo hoo! See you on the other side!

You probably need to start with your PCP to begin documenting this. They will then probably refer you to a dermatologist for clinical confirmation, but start with your PCP.

I think this is going to be one of those questions where the answer is going to be ... it depends. I am 15 months out. I did not follow a low carb diet as I was very active during my weight loss phase getting into exercise. I ran, did classes at my local club and lifted about twice a week. I needed energy for this and carbs are the best source of energy, so ... Training for races, I would actually consume over 200 grams a day of carbs and still lost weight, so, it will depend on your activity level. If you try to do high activity with low carbs, you are not going to be operating at your highest potential and your metabolism will reflect that. Being active, I also had a higher Protein intake than most, I would guess. About 130 grams a day minimum. There is no way I could do this eating foods and still get the amount of carbs I needed, too, so, yes, I kept with the Protein shakes. I used Premier Protein RTD shakes from Costco/Sams and they totally work for me. The past couple months, however, I have been plagued by knee issues and just recently diagnosed with spinal stenosis (pinched nerve in spine) with numbness in my foot. Needless to say, my activity has ground to a halt. My protein and carbs intake reflect this. Again, I don't do low carb, but I also don't go crazy. I probably get 120 grams a day. I occassionally have a Protein shake on days when I don't eat foods with Proteins naturally. So, it depends. Sitting on your hiney all day? You are not going to need the protein and carbs you need if you were more active. A lot of sleevers discover their inner athlete and begin an exercise program. Others don't. It depends on your goals. Bottom line, is I just eat a good healthy diet with a cheat item or two. The sleeve keeps my portions down, so I can't go crazy. I got the sleeve so I didn't have to diet and it has worked for me.

Sorry, I'm just sceptical of some Drs and their motives. I've had them order expensive tests on me and my family members. I question them as to the foundation of tests and what the results would prove either way to a response of blank stares and tests not being ordered. Hospitals and clinics make money by ordering tests which can cause some undue stress to us. A friend just had a hysto done 2 weeks ago lapro and her entry points were about 6 inches lower than where my lowest entry point was and the ovaries are a good couple inches below that. I would just wonder why they would go poking around uninvited into areas not covered by the procedure. If you had a history of ovarian issues or some other symptoms, that would be one thing. But its not like there is a void under the skin and a nice easy path for a scope to go from the stomach area to the ovaries. There is a lot of connective tissue which would need to be interupted to check it out. Very low risk, for sure, but still, there is always risk. Of course, at this point, you have to do the tests and jump through all of the hoops, but my suggestion is to not worry about something until you have something to worry about.

It is difficult not to be anxious. This is a big life decision, for sure, and you want to be prepared. But, it is also easy to get your engines going into hyperdrive and make yourself crazy. (Not to mention your family/friends around you) So, don't worry. You're totally normal. Just breathe and keep everything right-sized.

I'm just curious ... they were checking out your ovaries during your VSG surgery? Aren't those located a bit further South? And I mean, quite a bit further South? Whilst I can see good things about doing some exploratory while inside, I can also see downsides. Was this something you knew they were going to check out prior?

Yanik, you will be fine. The first few days are the most difficult, but once you find your groove, you will coast along just fine. Don't overthink it and don't give it more power than it deserves. Focus on then end goal. Prepare, but don't be overanxious about doing everthing ABSOLUTELY correct. Breathe.

Just tell them you can't drink because you had to have "junk" reduction surgery because the women complained too much.

Sorry, I haven't updated my blog in awhile as I have been battling injury. I should keep it updated, though, with what I am going through with my knee, which has now become a pinched nerve issue in my back ... I'll try to be a better blogger. Yeah, I was a woofer with my food and it is easy to fall back into the habit. I really have to make conscience efforts to chew well and slow down. Even 15 months post. If it is painful to drink while eating, IMO, that is a clear indicator you are not chewing enough. Food is trying to pass through your pyloric valve and it is not broken down enough causing pain. Gotta chew more or chew better, shall I say. I don't believe in the 6 month slow down. I believe it is all in the habits we adopt. The loss slows down for a lot of people at 6 months because, for the most part, they are able to eat anything comfortably and do. They make poor food choices and do not follow the guidelines as closely as needed for loss. I don't follow the rules to the letter, but I do keep pretty close to them. My restriction is still excellent and have no doubt that if I needed to drop another 20 pounds, I could easily do it by following the guidelines closer.

Frza, are you Portland Metro? http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2008/10/23/q-bbq/

Do you think he is completely aware of his actions and how you interpret them? This whole weight loss thing, how we see ourselves and how others see us is a pretty awesome thing. This is going to make contact with the very root of your relationship with food and your spouse. There may be some deeper things going on here that they may not even be aware of. Before you write him off as an insensitive a$$, perhaps there may be something else going on here with him and his own demons.

Boy, I hope I don't come across as a jerk here, but if you look at my before and after pictures, which one looks healthier? Which one is more appealing from a strictly physical point of view? Which one do you think my wife prefers? I don't want to come across as a saying obese people look "horrid", to quote Storm, but surely it can be appreciated that someone who has gone from morbidly obese or larger BMI to a healthier BMI is going to look healthier. Tell me how many people who look healthier don't look better? It's one of the reasons I did this, for sure. I don't know if I looked "horrid" before, but surely I know I look better.

Looks yummy. I had one of those turkey legs at Disneyland. Man, they are good. Just curious ... how much of that will you eat and how long will it take you to eat it?

Ladies, before y'all start telling the OP that he needs new friends, you have to remember that men and women communicate differently. This is the means by which a lot of men tell each other they care. The more cr@p they give, the more they actually care. What you are witnessing in the above dialog is actually a very healthy, albeit sophamoric conversation between caring friends. Llyod nailed the response.

Some people have more swelling than others. The more swelling you have, the less you are going to be able to take in. Count yourself lucky, but don't overdo it. Just get in what you are supposed to get in.