Katie713

I'll be sleeved in April, but am on a 1200 calorie restricted diet and when I look at the times when I definately plateaued or gained it was usually from snacking as you've described. A little nacho dip and a few tortilla chips, a little bit of a high calorie dessert like cheesecake. A couple potato chips with real sour cream dip, a tortilla with butter. Not much, but these items were dense and high in calories or fat or starch, enough to stall my weight loss. This journey I'm on now is about losing the excess weight and when I am on track, logging in my food and staying in my calorie range, with planned goodies so that I don't feel deprived, I continue to lose consistently. It just brings it home...the statement that the sleeve is just a tool in this journey of ours to lose weight. The proof is in the puddin !! Thanks for your post!!

I'm pre-op, getting sleeved in April. I am practicing the slower eating technique as well as not drinking with meals now and have been for the last month. I hope this will ingrain the habit before the surgery so that this doesn't happen to me.

This is the best description I've read yet. I'll be sleeved in April....so good to know!

Here is some of the basic advantages to having the sleeve, I pasted the information from the Bariatric.us website. I went through the 12 week Kaiser pre-op program and received tons of information on the surgery and on the nutritional requirements before and after surgery. There are tons of success stories on this website and also alot of issues, mostly in the early phases of recovery after surgery. Most long term sleevers wish they had done the surgery long ago. I will be sleeved in April of this year, and I have been on restricted calories since last September and already lost nearly 40 pounds. I am looking forward to the next leg of this journey. The effects of gastric sleeve surgery are: restricts food intake controls hunger Following gastric sleeve surgery, food continues to move through the digestive system naturally, from the time it enters the stomach to the time it is released into the small intestine through the pyloric valve. The difference is that after surgery the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time is greatly reduced. The surgery also helps to control hunger, because the upper portion of the stomach that produces the hunger stimulating hormone Ghrelin is removed during surgery. Advantages Intestines not cut, rerouted, or bypassed, so does not cause malabsorption or nutritional deficiencies Keeps pyloric valve intact, thus reducing ulcer risk and avoiding dumping syndrome Food does not get stuck on way into stomach, as is possible with gastric banding Can usually be performed laparoscopically, even on very obese patients Safer and less complex than a combined restrictive/malabsorptive procedure, especially for patients with health problems Option for patients with health concerns or medical issues, such as anemia, Crohn’s disease, anti-inflammatory drug use, or prior surgery, that prevents them from other bariatric procedures Does not require a medical implant (gastric band) or adjustments Average weight loss of 30% to 50% excess weight in first eighteen months May be converted to duodenal switch for additional weight loss Revision option for gastric band patients

The effects of gastric sleeve surgery are: restricts food intake controls hunger Following gastric sleeve surgery, food continues to move through the digestive system naturally, from the time it enters the stomach to the time it is released into the small intestine through the pyloric valve. The difference is that after surgery the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time is greatly reduced. The surgery also helps to control hunger, because the upper portion of the stomach that produces the hunger stimulating hormone Ghrelin is removed during surgery. I've gone through the Kaiser Options 12 week pre-op program with the intention of having weight loss surgery, after many years of yo-yo dieting and always gaining back the weight. I'm 56 and I needed to do something very proactive to give me longevity and a more active lifestyle. I got really tired of being sedentary! Tired of needing a belt extender on an airplane, tired of never sitting in a booth in a restaurant! In the 12 week program, we were expected to lose 10% before being eligible for surgery and put on a restricted calorie diet, mine started at 1400-1700 calories for six weeks, then 1200-1400 for the next six weeks, and after that 1200, which is ongoing while I wait for surgery. The post op information indicates that the dietary restrictions after surgery, once fully healed, are to eat mostly Protein, then fruits & veggies, then carbs. The new stomach pouch can only hold about 3-4 ounces in the beginning, so this is not much food, but you feel FULL after eating very little, and the stomach is no longer "stretchy". You have to supplement with protein about 80-100 grams per day. This means for most people supplementing with Protein shakes between meals and then meals with high protein as a main component. I can envision having some carbs after surgery, but this will not be my mainstay. I have lost a good amount of weight even now at 1200 calories and 30 minutes a day of walking and some resistance work and strength training. I take Vitamins everyday and drink at least 64 oz of liquid daily. Mostly, if you feel better having some carbs in your life, you would be better to switch out to whole grains. I do this by having whole grain crackers, reduced fat triscuit and wheat thins, whole grain bread, brown rice (learned to love this) and whole wheat english muffins, Pasta, etc. Even tortilla chips are whole grain, so I can have my chips and salsa and still lose weight. In the big scheme, you can't do things the old way. You have to eat healthy and do the work, by monitoring your intake, and drinking Fluid and getting excercise. The sleeve is a tool not a simple fix. I'm going for it.

You're gonna love the Options Program, you will get so much information and make new friends too. I finished the 12 week program and am now awaiting surgery this Spring. I've already met my surgeon. Check with the Kaiser benefits team to see what your co-pay might be, it's not the same for everyone, it depends on your plan. Luckily I was fully covered with no co-pay. I've already lost alot of weight just going through the program. Good Luck!

What a great attitude! This is what I am truly hoping for - I should be having my surgery in early April. Just awesome!!

Yes, it counts. I specifically asked this with the nutritionist at Kaiser. All your liquids count.

I had to "copy" the actual ticker and "paste" it into my signature. That was the only thing that worked, I kept just getting the code showing up the other way. Good Luck

You should be able to. I can't see why not!!

Kaiser has financing options...check that out.

Sound yummy and I love using ground turkey for most recipes that I used to use ground beef. You stats are inspirational. I am currently awaiting VSG surgery in southern California. I'm excited to start this journey!!

Sounds delicious...I'll be making these for sure!

I finished Options Dec 13th and have my final visit with the bariatric doctor this Thursday. Hopefully I'll be getting that call from the surgeon sometime early this year as well. I am also excited and nervous, but I feel good about this decision. I loved the Options program and all the material I got and everyone I met...what a great program.

Last week I also clicked on The World According to Eggface...and I really feel that I am going to enjoy my new lifestyle once I'm sleeved...most of her recipes sound so good!!!

On another post today I saw a referral to the following website that is MOST helpful!!! Browse through her info...it is really amazing.http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html

Mullet Head....what a great website !! Thanks!!!

My doctor and the nutritionist say you need at least 80-100 grams of Protein per day so that you are not losing muscle tissue and so that you heal properly. All fluids combined should be as close to 64 oz as you can. Are you monitoring your fluids and protein? Were you not given dietary recommendations?

I decided early on that I would tell my closest family members and my best friends. They are all totally supportive. I don't feel any shame whatsoever over this decision. I hope to have the VSG procedure early next year after I finish my pre-op protocols. I figure not only am I going to need their support as I get through this life changing surgery, but I want them to know that I am doing this to increase my longevity so that I can enjoy as many years as I can with them. I suppose at some time I might need to defend my right to chose when I come upon someone who lets me have it....especially once I lose alot of weight and then it will be apparent to everyone who knows me that something radical has changed, but for those who love me and know me well, I think they will applaud a my little victories! I do think I should develop a strategy for handling the not so nice comments if I need to...so I am open to suggestions!

Thanks for bringing this subject up. This is one of the things on my checklist when I meet the surgeon who I will be referred to after I finish the Options pre-op program at Kaiser, southern California. I finish the pre-op program Dec 13 and then will be waiting to be contacted for an appointment with the surgeon. I certainly would not want a pouch that is so small that I ended up with reflux issues.

It may take some time for them to get used to the new you...but it's amazing how adaptable family can be if they want to. Since I've been on a weight loss program, everyone in my family is getting healthier and no one is screaming and crying over it. Go home with the intent of being happy and finding all the ways you need to thrive in your healthier body.

We are walking on this journey together. You have a great outlook, but YES, we all have our days, and probably all experience plateaus that would normally derail our best intentions, but not this time Tina....this is our chance to shine. I finish my pre-op classes Dec 13th and then I get the referral to the surgeon...if all is well, hopefully early next year, I'll be right behind ya. You go girl.

Thanks for all your replies...this has been most helpful for me to understand that protein drinks and protein supplementation may be a life long ally of mine in order to get enough protein into my diet. I've been looking up average protein values in most foods and I can see that if you just can't get enough volume going you can easily run short on protein. I am going to pick up some samples in the coming weeks to see which ones I prefer before I go and purchase a big tub. Again, thanks. I finish the Kaiser Options program on Dec 13th and then I will meet with the surgeon to schedule the procedure. I am thinking (hoping) it will take place early next year.

Oh how I long to see that for myself!!!

I was a social smoker, only when I was out partying and having a few drinks like at family parties or happy hour. My kids got me an e-cig for my birthday this summer...and low and behold...I just kind of got over it. I am no longer a smoker of any kind. My e-cig is sitting on the shelf and no more real ciggies ever. Congrats...you can so do this!!!