Chimera

MOM helps me as well - but it certainly does suck that it has to replace a little meal lol. I swear it is the nastiest tasting stuff - gonna try the mirilax.

I had filet mignon yesterday and I certainly am not 4 months out - my nutritionists says as tolerated, and I tolerated it just fine Just have to chew, chew, chew. I know you are probably sick of hearing people say it gets better, but it does - I found that weeks 3 through 4 was where things began to normalize - that was when the diet was advanced. the liquid stage is mentally exhuasting.

This is exactly what I am afraid of as well - it has happened every other time. I see the successes of so many others here that have similar stats as my own ( My excess weight - 188 lbs) who met and exceeed goal, I have those folks in my support group at the hospital as well and they give me hope and reassurance that if I follow the directives given to me - and the wisdom of folks on this board I too can be one that finally gets this fat burned off for good. I am taking it a day at a time and working on issues as they arise. Things feel very different pre and post op I'll tell ya lol. I just always keep in mind the quote from Eggface's site: "There is no finish line, healthy food choices, move your body, work on the head, rinse, lather, repeat, forever."

My husband was up and running around mowing the lawn on Friday after his monday VSG - I was excited that the he was feeling so good so soon, I went in for my surgery two weeks later and it was like being hit by a mac truck, I expected to go home the next day and was in the hospital for a week - with internal bleeding, hematocrit (sp) dropped to 18 and had multiple blood transfusions and when I finally got home I had a suture split open and it was one giant bloody mess that sent me back to the hospital. I deeply hope that no one has any form of complication but I was not expecting what I went through - which is nothing compared to what some folks have had complication wise here. They do happen.

Don't even look at the scale right now - your body is all wacked out from surgery. I gained 20 lbs two days after surgery with all the fluid they pushed, had blood transfusions, it was crazy - 3 weeks later I was down considerably more than when I went in

Ticker has my current stats - I wouldn't call myself fast by any means, maybe median? From the start I think those with high BMI's lose faster - but statistically we may have more trouble getting it all off. My Dr. classified me as high risk with my BMI - think that is anything over 50.

There are many different pre-ops diets out there - lots of surgeons like you to be on liquids, my Dr. has his patients follow Atkins induction style eating for two to three weeks prior to surgery - with clear liquids the day before. I lost 14 lbs in a little under two weeks and I guess my liver was teeny-tiny from what the PA told me. I was really happy to still get to eat - it was good practice to cut carbs quite a while before surgery. Another route seems to be 2-3 protein shakes a day and lean protein and green veggies for dinner - no starches - I ate like this quite a bit, used Premier protein drinks and would have grilled chicken, turkey, beef for dinner - also ate a lot of eggs, and cheese as well.

So awesome! Congratulations Been a long time since I have seen a one as that first number - what a day that will be.

Praying for you that the pressure eases up - it is so important to take a deep breath and do your best to take good care of you, so that you can care for the many others that depend on you. Sending you positive thoughts!

Aww I am sorry to hear that But keep your chin up - and just keep slogging away. Do you journal your food and exercise? It can be a big help if you are not currently. The key to success is cutting carbs - or no processed carbs specifically, cut stuff like baked goods, bread, Pasta, rice, etc. If you can up the Protein and Water and cut carbs so they are under 50 - you will lose. I personally did Atkins 72 prior to surgery - that is cut carbs to essentially zero. The fat will melt off, and fast.

Statistically for vsg patients WL in month one is 10-20 lbs. and 8-10 lbs a month after but your mileage may vary. My doc says we can expect to lose 50% of our excess body weight in the first 6 months after surgery, then another 25% in the next 6 months, and the final push to goal and the last 25% in the second year. There are many folks here who have lost all of their excess lbs. much faster - or within the year - same at my support group, at least the folks who have had a RNY or VSG as opposed to a band. There are lots who are slower too - I am hoping I get most of mine off in a year, but I know that is a mighty tall order with almost 200 to lose of excess I was like a limp rag the first month - I resorted to milk and I had a lot of those Protein chicken Soup mixes. It wasn't until I had a sip of regular gatorade that it was as if a fog lifted - I know they say to keep the carbs really low, but I do enjoy a bit a fruit every few days and I feel a lot better - usually unsweetened grapefruit or a nectarine. My energy came back around week 6.

when I used to go to weight watchers - that means that fat is ready to go - i.e. burn off. I have defintely noticed much more squish in certain parts of my own bod recently.

Great advice Pook - don't forget that the sleeve is a permanent, and new tool. It sounds as if your body is in starvation mode and not letting go - I know that if I dont get the Protein and calories in, my losses slow down - if my calories are at the upper range suggested (800) I lose about a lb a day. I would try getting Protein shakes in if you can choke them down - something like Premier at 30g of protein a pop. Your body is probably feasting on its own muscle with your exercise - and in my experience that is when losses stop - and you also dont feel so great. Sending you positive thoughts to keep up the good fight!

I dont remember where I saw this but Under 30g carbs = rapid weight loss 50-100g = some weight loss 100-200g = will maintain the weight you are at and over 200g you will gain weight from personal experience I would say that those figures are pretty accurate

Post surgery? I think a lot of folks and my NUT's give the same recommendation - 600-800 calories a day, 80+ g of Protein, and the lower your carbs the faster you will burn fat - i.e. the sweet spot is generally below 50 g a day. I feel better when I get my calries up through dense protein (helllo chicken breasts - I'm going to start clucking soon lol) - and drop the carbs to 20 and under, which can be a challenge with chewable Vitamins having carbs - and delectable nectarines being in season. I dont worry about fat - selecting the right healthy fats is better for our WL, and it is carbs and insulin response that make us pile on the lbs - not fat with that said - mine is usually pretty low per day - between 10-40g. Mind you I did not come anywhere close to those numbers until this last week - I was lucky to get 2-300 cals in when I first got home. I did soft scrambled eggs rather than mashed potatoes or Beans - both of which are big trigger foods for me.

I think it could be due to number of factors - the amount of hydration we are gettting - I used to be one of those that just drank coffee all day with milk and sugar. Now, no sugar, limited dairy cept for hard cheeses, more walking, fresh, I quit smoking after a pack a day habit that lasted 28 years, simple meals, very rare for us to eat processed foods now, recuperating forces us to rest a bit. all of the supplements - hah the list could go on and on. My skin is clear but hope my new turkey neck starts to shrink lol. And last but not least happiness and hope at finally being able to shed some stubborn weight makes me glow most days now

274 the moring of surgery - 3 days post was 294 due to internal bleeding and the hospital staff pushing massive fluids. After the first few weeks of madness I was down about 23 lbs from my surgery day weight in 3-4 weeks. I think the first two you should not worry to much - our bodies are so wacked out by the stress of surgery, healing, and trying to get fluid/elimination/protein into a groove that I think numbers can be deceiving early on. Best of luck with your surgery - sip,sip,sip, and walk as soon as you can and often.

Thanks for the tip about centering the yolk - I picked up an avocado shopping today but it is hard as a rock and needs to ripen a bit - so it is grilled chicken with a tiny pomodoro salad for me for dinner (sliced roma tomato, buffalo mozzerella, and basil with a splash of olive oil and cracked pepper - yum) Good to know those fat devils will be yummy

I dunno - everyone is different, my husband was out mowing the lawn and doing yardwork 4 days after surgery - while I had complications and was still in the hospital. There is no way I would have been able to do to a festival within even the first two weeks post surgery, but there are lots of folks here that were raring to go right after surgery.

Statistically my surgeon told me that for vsg patients in the first 6 months expect to lose 50% of your excess body weight, then another 25% the following six months - and the final 25% to goal weight during the second year. Currently I am about 7 weeks out from surgery and have lost 40% of my excess body weight including my pre-surgical loss. I was hoping to hit stastistical numbers - i.e. 10-20 lbs down the first month post surgery, and 8-10 lbs a month following. So far, so good - I am working on getting my exercise in which can be hard with a recent severe flare up of osteo arthritis, but just taking things a day at a time. I really think everyone is different and will lose at different rates. I am working on celebrating the milestones as I achive them - like no longer being super morbidly obese, and in 12 more lbs lost I will no longer be morbidly obese, just obese even folks who consider themselves slow losers, if they post their monthly losses the cumulative total can rack up some amazing total losses over time. Hoping to hit 200 and lower sometime in late November - a feat I no longer thought was possible

Get more icecube trays if you dont have many - or a small bag of ice. Believe me, it made all the difference in being able to drink or not drink after surgery. Savory forms of Protein Soup - as well as clear Protein drinks like Isopure or proti-diet brand...all that stuff is available on Bariatric Advantage or at other retailers. This stuff also saved me right after surgery because I had a heck of a time with Premier Protein and nectar the first couple of weeks post, which I loved pre-surgery. I have never used my food scale - as now we go by volume rather than weight. You may find that you use measuring cups more. We also use the small dishes, and I picked up a set of toddler flatware that we use all the time - its nicer than our everyday forks and spoons lol.

Ice is now my best friend Powerade zero is what I go to when I feel like I am dying of thirst - which I think I felt the first 3 weeks post surgery, then paniced about getting dehydrated and sent back to the hospital. The Powerade really seemed to help - just kept it on ice and drank constantly.

I have days like that too - some days early on lactose free milk was all I could manage. I also resort to protein broth, milk when I am behind on my liquids or still want to sip my drink and not have to wait after eating - which is one of my biggest challenges.

that is one of my favorite soups in the world! Lucky you

Here is another great page at MDA about nutrition - look at the Protein reqs btw - good stuff! three cheers for real food! http://www.marksdailyapple.com/definitive-guide-to-the-primal-eating-plan/#axzz1zss9QFOX