MsDebi

Good Luck and God Bless to all of you!! it's almost more exciting than we can stand, huh? Please let us know how you are all doing, and WELCOME TO THE VSG FAMILY!!!!!

You are leaving more behind than you think. Not only will you eat less food and drink slower than you do now, but you'll also leave behind lots of unwanted fat. You'll leave behind the look of pity in other people's eyes as you slowly kill yourself with food. You'll have to get used to being able to walk longer distances instead of huffing and puffing from the car to the store. You'll lose the aching joints from carrying too much weight and you'll lose the constant fear that any little pain might be a precursor to a heart attack.
You will have to get used to buying clothes that arent made by Omar the Tent Maker and, heaven forbid, you'll have to give up shopping in the big and tall/plus sizes section. I know that you will miss being forced to accept whatever Omar decides would look good on an obese person...or at least give maximum coverage.
You'll also lose the fear that you won't be able to perform in bed...and sex might actually become fun again. That may make up for a whole lot of glasses of wine. Oh, and you will gain back some length on the equipment, or so I read in the Man's room. I know that won't be an important and exciting side effect!
Most importantly, I know you won't like the feeling that you get from taking control of your life and your health. I'm certain that won't make up for all the things you'll have to give up.
Good luck on your journey!

I'm 5 months out. Sometimes I surprised at what I don't miss. I used to drink 3-5 glasses of iced tea with a meal. Now none. Doesn't bother me in the least (but I am a bit more careful about temp and spice). I thought I wouldn't be able to enjoy dinner out with my friends. I go out at least weekly with friends and do just fine. As long as I don't make a big deal out of it, they don't either. And I do enjoy my food. My mind has adjusted to smaller portions (but believe me, it is more than a cracker) and I no longer crave carbs so focusing on Protein is easy as pie (well, maybe meat pie). Of course everyone is different, but I've been surprised how easy it is to adjust to the lifestyle. As soon as you accept the new norm, then it can be routine and rewarding.
Hope that helps.

I was told 2 weeks....but slow and easy when you do! LOL

I realize that every single one of us has their own story of their weight loss journey. I'm trying to vlog mine via YouTube. Please take a minute to check my videos out. My channel is MsDebisTime. If you are kind enough to view, please subscribe....I really want this vlogging to work for me....and I REALLY need the encouragement!
Thanks!!

I'm two weeks out and I didn't have a leak test. Congrats to you. The first week was the hardest this second I started feeling normal again.

I was just sleeved on 3/5, but I have already realized that this is an issue. I'm honestly not sure exactly what works as "a replacement"...but I know that I have turned to this site when I feel that urge to eat something that I shouldn't.... Just getting on here and reading about other's struggles makes me feel normal, and boosts my spirits.
Good Luck to you, and take advantage of this site!

PLEASE let me have that problem!!!

:)I'm proud to be a bit "flappy."

I was just sleeved on 3/5, but I have already realized that this is an issue. I'm honestly not sure exactly what works as "a replacement"...but I know that I have turned to this site when I feel that urge to eat something that I shouldn't.... Just getting on here and reading about other's struggles makes me feel normal, and boosts my spirits.
Good Luck to you, and take advantage of this site!

I found a great way to do the Protein shake.. Mix a sugar free carnation instant Breakfast chocolate packet (5g) with 1 scoop Unjury unflavored Protein powder (20g) and 1.5 cups skim milk (13g) = 38g protein. It tastes like chocolate milk. Very good!!
You could use 1 cup of milk for 8g which would lower it to 33g protein, but I wanted it a little thinner.

I'm almost a year out and can't eat that much in one sitting. I like subway and can eat about 4 inches of a sub...

I can't eat an entire children's meal in one sitting... I'm almost 3 months out... I find that my restriction varies from day to day.. Today, I ate half a sandwich for Breakfast, the other half for lunch and some cheetos (I feel bad about them.. ;( .. I will make a better dinner choice)...
My friend always complains that I'm not eating enough and that I should force myself to eat, it's all in my head, etc.... I told her to stop or we won't be dining together any longer...

That is just scary control over a person. People have NO Business obsessing over YOUR food. Even family IMHO. Good for you.

I can eat more Soup so I tend to order soup when out with people. Some days it seems I can eat more than others too.

I like going out to eat--my husband and I go out regularly. I have developed some strategies that make it work for me.
1. My husband and I sometimes share. When we eat Mexican, I usually get a big forkful or two of refried Beans off his plate, and I dip a few chips in there with some salsa. Perfect Meg-sized meal, and he doesn't miss the Beans. (My husband is also a sleever, but his capacity is a LOT more than mine!)
2. I order an appetizer as my entree. Nobody thinks twice about this--I have yet to have a waiter even blink when I say something like, "I'd like the shrimp cocktail appetizer as my entree, please." I still usually have food to take home, but not as much.
3. I order Soup. Brothy Soup goes down really easily--I can actually have 2 courses at a restaurant if I order soup for an appetizer and then another appetizer as my entree--yay! I don't ever finish the soup--just eat most of it, then I enjoy a few bites of my "main dish" and take the rest of that home for another meal.
4. I order a small salad--especially in a place that has a Greek salad with feta cheese or yogurt dressing--LOVE that I get Protein in a non-meat form (my sleeve has problems with meat), and I eat the "good stuff" off the top of the salad and leave most of the lettuce. Just be sure you're chewing thoroughly, or a few bites is all that will work!
When you eat concentrated Protein like meat, it definitely fills you up faster; that's why the "protein first" rule works so well during the losing phase. You get FULL when you eat a couple of ounces of chicken or meat. If you don't eat those, you don't get quite so full quite so fast. The "get full" scale ranges all the way down from those great protein foods to what are called "slider foods," foods you can eat that don't fill you up at all--for some people, popcorn is a slider. For others, chips or other junk food are sliders. Finding those foods that work somewhere in the middle can be a big help when you're heading out to eat!
Good luck!!

My jeans are to big already! And I went to Walmart...just looking around in the clothes to see what's out there for when I need to buy a few staples...and I found this really cute black and white printed maxi dress in a size 22/24...only one they had. So I bought it. Came home, tried it on..just to see how much more I needed to lose for it to fit...and holy balls it fits!!!!! Have to wear a smoothing garment under it...but it fits!!!!

NSV is short for Non scale Victory. Examples of NSVs are:
Going down sizes - Losing a double chin - people not recognising you
I'm sure you'll get some soon

I was worried on the same issues you were, but my doctor stated that by having the VSG your eating habits are forcibly changed, it takes about 3 months to break habits and learn new ones so you have to think that in a few years (worrying about stomach stretch) that you have all new habits now and you mentally and physically won't be eating the same way, your energy level will be risen and you will become more active and your old habits will be basicly a memory so stretching the stomach won't be an issue because you are not going to be the same person anymore you will feel lighter, stronger, more energetic and Loving Life. I had my doubts too but I have been on youtube and probably have heard over 100 peoples testimonies and 99% stated it was the best thing they have ever done and they don't have the same habits as before and wish they did it sooner. The other 1% seemed to have other issues and food was way more then a crutch for them. After the surgery there are hormone changes going on so you might feel depressed etc but that is just for a few days as you heal after that (from what I have learned) that everyday gets better and better until its fabulous!!
My surgery is on Tuesday 3/13 and I am counting the minutes. I can't wait to meet the new me!!
Many Blessings to you and your Journey, God Bless!

Thank you all so much for your replies! I've been thinking about this for days now and it all boils down to ME and what's best for my health and well being. Yes surgery is a drastic and last resort measure to take but I've been a bigger girl my whole life and once I turned 20 it just kept getting more and more out of control. Really since 2003 is when it's been really bad because I went from that overweight category to obese and now to morbid obesity. It makes me disgusted with myself really! I understand the risks, it's a surgical procedure so there is always risks with any type of surgery but I think the benefits far out weigh the risks. I am very excited about starting the process and I just hope I can get approved. I was so stoked to learn that the insurance I have even covers WLS so now I'm hoping I can get approved. I also have PCOS which wreaks havoc on my entire body so I hope I don't hit any road blocks due to that. I don't have any other health issues and I'm not on any daily medications.
Congrats to everyone who has been approved and have had the surgery. This forum is one of my new favorite places to visit!!

I feel like starting at 5 or 6 months I could eat semi-normal amounts of food. :-) still a fraction of what it was but its now not worrisome to others.

When I get my sleeve I'm calling it The Sheriff since he'll be monitoring my food intake! Once we get to know each other better he'll get a first name! Until then I can't wait 'til there's a new sheriff in town!

Ok, so after a fairly dramatic fall down the stairs back in December (skinned knees, 1 broken toe and torn rotator cuff - ouch!), I FINALLY got my 1st physio appointment yesterday.
I arrive, and to my horror the physio is like an adonis (who I have to be undressed in front of - eek!).
So I'm blushing away, and he starts to run through the standard questions; ethnicity, religion, allergies, height, WEIGHT!
Immediately I think, oh no, what should I round it down to (I've never answered that question without knocking at least a stone off the real answer)???
Then after a moment of hesitation, I realised I didn't have to lie. The truth is fine!!!
This NSV felt quite daunting, but I loved it! x

I was just sleeved on March 5, 2012. Tho I am sore, I am so happy about this decision. Poo on naysayers! Worry about you....how u feel, what makes u happy. You are the only one that really worries about how you feel...and what makes you happy. My insurance did not cover, so I am a self pay. I don't even care. Just so happy to be on my way to a happier, healthier me!

Oh I understand that! I have had mixed responses for my decision, some are scared for me, and some think it's laziness, and some think it's wonderful, I just have to do what I think is right for me, because in the end, I am the one who has to live in this body for the res of my life, not them. You can do it girl!! <3