Seraphina

I'm so glad this is helping! I love your comments. I honestly don't know if I had any stalls. I had read exhaustively about it before the surgery so this first 5 weeks or so after the surgery I never got on the scale. Not once. If I had done the weigh every single day thing (which is so like me when I'm "dieting") I bet I would have had many, many demoralizing days. On another note, I was curious to see if losing 70 lbs in 7 months was relatively fast, slow, normal, whatever. I know of someone on this forum who had her surgery a week before me and her goal is to lose twice the amount I have. She is now half way to goal! In other words we lost at the very same rate with very different starting and ending points. Don't sweat it my friends...just remember that the scale is STILL the evil little contraption it has always been. Congrats to you all for doing something great for yourselves by getting your stomachs ripped out. We are total badasses!

Oh yeah, quick tip...stay off the scale! Once a week will make your whole next week awesome! Seriously, no more than once a week. I went an entire month more than once and was elated when I finally got back on and found how much I had lost. What a rush!

Thank you all! I totally relate to you who are having the same thoughts I did...so much self doubt and fear for us all. For me it was so bad that I told no one I was doing this in case I failed (I have yet to tell anyone). My goal was modest compared to some, but overwhelming for me. I have thyroid disease and a non-existent metabolism. I lost about 10 lbs on my preop and a little over 60 since then. It sucked, let's be real, but I didn't bust my ass or watch the food intake and I even drank alcohol whenever I felt like it. Some may think it irresponsible of me to say these things, given how much we all have struggled and continue to struggle post op in many cases. But my intention is to encourage everyone. It will happen! It will.

I met my goal today! It took a little over 6 months and I didn't even try that hard. If you think you will be the one person this will not work for, you are wrong. I just knew that I would be the one that failed. It happened for me and it WILL happen for you! Don't even stress it.

I'm 2 weeks post op and vegan. In my experience, doctors don't know any more about vegan nutrition than you're average non-vegan. I'm on full liquids so my diet is extremely limited, but I'm not worried about the future. Make sure you supplement (liquid and dissolvable for me now) all your Vitamins and minerals. Very important. I am currently blending almond milk (unsweetened vanilla) and vegan Protein powder. There are several different kinds. Some good quality ones are "Vegn" brand, "Raw Power" brand, and various rice Proteins. You can also mix the plain versions of these powders into Soups (there are tons of vegan pre-made soups (try "Imagine" brand). As you probably know, they make vegan everything now and it's easy to find vegan foods with protein. I suggest taking a very long, slow comb of your local health food grocery and you will be surprised at how many things that work post op. I can't wait to get on mushies...I'll have more choices than I'll know what to do with. Please PM me anytime and we can compare notes as the food stages progress. I would not have done this if I couldn't stay vegan, so don't be too concerned. Just do a lot of looking into vegan proteins. My favorite stuff in the world is "Gardein" brand foods. I can't wait to get to solid foods again so I can have those amazing protein foods. *sigh* You can easily do this as a vegan. And I think for us it might even be easier because we're accustomed to saying "no" to 90% of the food out there. (This is just a portion thing for me.) Best wishes!

I'm 5 days out and relating to all of this. I am sipping all day. It's very tedious. I miss drinking like a normal person. I get extremely scared when I feel that push/pressure in the breastbone too. I'm just sure I'm causing a leak, so I slow down again and keep sipping. I also have the infamous, "I'm going to be the one person this doesn't work for!" panic thoughts. It's rougher than I thought it would be. Question. I'm supposed to be on clears for 10 days. Can I mix Protein powder and drink that too? I can't drink clear protein because I can't drink whey. I desperately need some nutrients.

That's so true. It's hard to say certain things out loud, and if you do, it should be to people who you KNOW got your back. Everyone at VST's got your back. PM me anytime and I'll give you the real deal on WLS (the way I see it anyway) :wink1:

I'm here (Almater Hospital) now. Feel totally safe. The people here are wonderful. All of them. You can see the border from the hospital parking lot.

"Fighter" by Christina Aguilera "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson "La La" by Ashley Simpson I have a long list of workout songs but this will get you started. Yeah, it's "chicky" music, but it gets you going super quick.

Dear Golden, I am second day post op. The only support I received and do receive is from some wonderful people on these boards. It's all the support I needed and then some. I told no one in my life about my surgery. Not a soul. And I pulled it off. Do your thing girl. Just do your thing.

Thank you all for your support. So sweet. I'm literally falling asleep as I read this. Pain meds, yuuuummm

I'm waiting for surgery to begin. Happy pill coming soon. And I just can't get over Dr. McDreamy here (Dr. Campos). I can't wait to get thin and fabulous and get me one of those! Thank you so much for your encouragement everyone! I reaaally needed it!

Thank you. I think I'll try and concentrate on the future. Not the right now. Thank you for replying.

I'm in Mexicali alone, going to be sleeved tomorrow. Experiencing very unpleasant emotions. Any support is welcome.

I'm 7 days till surgery. I went all out today...3 glasses of wine and one ginormous plate of Thanksgiving goodness. I feel sick. Not worth it. Glad to be getting sleeved. food is stupid. Or maybe I am, but this silliness I won't miss at all. Bring on the sleeve!

Glad to hear you're on the mend! I can't wait to join you on the loser's bench! I'm going to YouTube now... Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm glad you're feeling a little better. I do hate to hear about the drugs. I was hoping to just disappear for a few days and wake up in San Diego, if you know what I mean. I'm not getting the spinal either. No way. I'd rather have my stomach ripped out than...well...uh...nevermind... You're so sweet to reassure ME while you're recovering yourself. I'm sending you a cyber hand squeeze. Hugs are for later when you feel better, haha. Healing vibes...

I'm so glad to hear you're OK. I've been checking to see when you would post. I hope that yucky, crampy chest thing goes away soon. And K, you *are* a celebrity. You have your own show and everything! P.S. How are the drugs?

Hey girl, I just posted on your other thread. Oops! Enjoy that margarita! More vibes... :high5:

There are several of us getting sleeved by Dr. Aceves around the same time. Just search his name and you'll find us. There is so much help to be found in these forums. I'm not sleeved yet, but the experts are all around. Congrats!

Kandy, I so did check out your vlog. OMG you're hilarious! I loved it. Here's me to everything you said: "Oh yeah...so true...me too...mmm hmm...yep." Good stuff. Sending vibes for you, sleeve sister. :welldoneclap:

I'm pretty new here too and I'm so glad I found these wonderful people. Support, encouragement, knowledge, etc. is always here. It's amazing. So welcome from another newbie and Texan too!

I'm going to Dr. Aceves for my Dec 1 surgery and I'm going alone. I'm looking forward to it. I won't have to share the remote!

Suzanne, thank you so much. I may be in touch very soon as I'm going alone, and soon! Yay!

I am vegan. I am on my preop diet, which is high Protein and I'm doing it easily. There are many vegan protein powders and Gardein products are vegan meat substitutes. There are many more, of course, just a Google away. Post Op will be fine because it's easy to do protein, veggies, and fruit. Even the first month clears, full liquids, mushies phases are easily done vegan. My doctor has said they will feed me vegan everything in the hospital, no problem. I wouldn't be getting sleeved if I couldn't stay vegan. I've been one for 25 years and I'm in excellent health, (with the exception of not being able to lose weight due to hypothyroidism). Other than severe calorie restriction, which I can't do long term without restriction, the weight will remain because of this issue. Going vegan is easy if you believe in it strongly. If you don't it's a bit more challenging because you're always working around the system. Don't be dissuaded. Go vegan! The animals and the planet and your body will love you for it!