runner

Seriously though peeps.....I'm still waiting for surgery, and right now I can still eat what I'm craving, and I have to say I am miserable. If I'm going to be miserable over food, I can't wait for it to be in the getting skinny direction. I sat in 2 different restaurants today where I didn't fit in the chair or booth. Where is the joy in that life?? To top it off, my hiatal hernia ....herniated....or whatever it does....this morning, so when I do eat, it's extra unpleasant. When you're having a tough time with the craving, try your hardest to remember what indulging your cravings made you feel like. That instant regret (at least for me). Not to be a downer or anything, but really. I've got the food world at my feet and I can't buckle my seatbelt. Nothing tastes that good.
You're doing great!! Focus on how good that tastes!!

I am in Canada and have gone thru this process twice because I was not ready the first time.
I was on the waiting list to see the doctor and started seeing dr.gregg in jan 2011 but then for some reason I got an overwhelming feeling that I was going to die. I just knew if I went thru with it that would be the end for me. Sooooo I hired a personal trainer, worked with a nutritionist, worked my butt off for months, started running, tried body by vi and here I am a year later back on the waiting list. I would have my sleeve by now if I stuck to it. But I'm glad I gave it my alll one more time so that I could really say I tried! I have learned valuable information over the last year and continued researching the sleeve. All of these things will help me out when its my turn and hopefully I won't have to wait too long!
Process for the 2nd time around.
Nov 24 faxed referral ~didn't go thru, i didn't confirm until the 19th of Dec
Dec 19 resent fax and confirmed went thru
Appointment maker supposed to call within the next 2 weeks (dec 20 to jan 2)
She hadn't called by the 9th so I called her.
Consult jan 17 9:30!!
I can't wait! I know I have at least 6 months to wait but I'm finally restarted.
Got accepted into the program.
Jan 25 meet the surgeon and watch a video
Feb 29 meet the nut
March 26 monthly weigh in

If you're not completely comfortable with Mexico then why would you go? I researched the surgery and surgeons for over a year. There's alot of other options out there. If price is your concern, then check out other countries that will perform the surgery. Or, go through a financing company to self pay in the States or Canada.
I agree with strongarm. $5300 was THE best money I have ever ever spent. I love my sleeve, but I refuse to tell anyone else to go and do it. Especially if they are not comfortable with ANY aspect of the surgery.
Good Luck in your decision!

I have been training for a 1/2 marathon since July. I hadn't run at all prior to July. I actually ran 14 miles this past Saturday. The 1/2 marathon I am training for is January 30th. I love it!
I will say that as the miles have gotten higher it is difficult to fuel my body and continue to lose weight. I am having a hard time getting the carb ratio right. At this point, I am focusing on my race and being fueled for it. I can also say that the muscles from running are really helping with the sagging skin.
Next up for me is a sprint triathlon in August and a full marathon next October. You will definitely be able to run as a post-VSGer.
Good luck!
Amanda

This has been posted a lot before but I understand it's really difficult to stretch your sleeve unless you had an issue at the beginning with the way your surgery was performed. The fundus (stretchy part) of your stomach is what was removed, and the remaining part is typically pretty muscular and really shouldn't stretch much.
I felt like I was eating far too much during the past few holiday weeks (and was . . . I was grazing and eating a lot of the wrong things) - but I got back on track today and got very full at Breakfast from my one egg, 1/2 oz of shredded cheese and 1 oz of canadian bacon - so I know that my sleeve is still doing what it's supposed to.
Just concentrate on getting back to the basics - no drinking while eating, Protein first, etc. We all know what we're supposed to be doing, it's just easy sometimes to backslide and fall into old habits!!

Not ME: OMG! You have lost so much weight! What are you doing? How did you do it!
ME: THE PIPE!
LOL!
Only some people will get it, but this person thought I was serious!
I was laughing so hard!

From what I understand, smoking can really impede the healing process. Big time. You are talking about your stomach here and you are OK with it not healing properly or taking twice as long? I'm sure your surgeon talked to you about this, assuming they knew you were a smoker.
Oh, boy ... I'm sure I'm going to come across as judgmental, but, I just have to say ... if you are not going to be compliant in this, how do you think the meal plan compliance is going to go?
Sorry, but you may be in for a rough road, then.
BTW, I am an ex-smoker and I know the demons. If you got this surgery to make a change, then make a change. If not, then I don't know what to tell you.

I had the sleeve 3 weeks ago 4 weeks ago- some time has passed since the original post. Not a dumb question! My surgery was November 7th.
I don't know of a surgeon that would perform it on a non-obese person, but my BMI was 31 at surgery (164 lbs), I was obviously on the lighter side of obese.
I lost about 20 lbs prior to surgery as well, a 31 BMI for me (164 lbs) was me at the lightest I've been. So at 131 lbs with a normal BMI now I'm ecstatic!

My surgeon, among others recommends limiting meals to 3 times per day once you are on solids.
This conflicts with every nutritionist and personal trainers recommendations I've got pre-sleeve- the rule has always been to eat smaller meals (obviously the sleeve takes care of that) consisting mostly of Protein every 3 hours (roughly 5-6x a day), because beyond that point your metabolism can drop.
Is there a reason we are typically recommended to limit our intake of food to 3 "meals" a day and avoid the snacking?
I don't ask this because I wish to nibble throughout the day, but because I'd like to be on a track that will keep my metabolism as high as possible and get me to my goal the quickest.
Obviously, these people with normal size stomachs who adhere to eating 5 small balanced portions get results- I do work with celebrities and people in the fitness community here in LA, and they look great and all adhere to small frequent portions.
So, what is the theory? Are we now wired a bit differently because our body can only take in small portions? Does anyone have a surgeon who encourages eating every 3 hours?
I am at week 3 right now, I've yet to get to the point of "meals" as everything I consume is blended or liquid. The concept of a meal or being full is still foreign to me.

Was this person you spoke someone reputable? Have they researched the sleeve enough for you to trust them? Is it your surgeon? Who is this?
Why have you let them occupy so much space in your head?
It is obvious to me this person has no idea about the finer details of VSG and you should not give weight to their advice. My guess is this is a family member or someone who has an emotional attachment to you who is a bit jealous of your decision to take back control of something you had lost. People are intimidated by someone who can do things they can't do. They feel the only way they can feel better about themselves and their decisions is to sabotage the other by getting inside their head.
Indymom is absolutely correct. The fundus has been removed. Your sleeve can stretch a bit, just like your wallet can, but by no means is it going to regain the 85% that was removed. I asked my Dr this directly and he told me that I would really have to put forward a concerted effort to stretch my sleeve.
Besides, it would be quantity, not quality of the food. Fried, greasy food is not going to stretch it anymore than a chicken breast would.
Evict the tenant in your head, yes. But also stop eating the bad foods. It keeps you from your program and puts a "For Rent" sign on your head. If you wanted to make a change by getting sleeved, then make a change.

There are many exercises you can do right in your home sitting on your couch. Pick up some hand weights and one of those large rubber bands at Target and you can do a TON of stuff. Yoga and stretch are also ways you can get a workout in. Search the web for stationary exercises or band exercise.
There are always options for any person's situation. Cheap, too!
http://www.band-exercises.net/

I usually take my PPI in the evenings, but today I took another in the am. It has been 2.5 hours since Breakfast of cottage cheese and I am not yet hungry. I am hoping that this takes care of the problem
Thanks!

When my weight was increasing, one of the most depressing events was when I realized that I had to raise the tilt of the steering wheel because it was brushing against my ever expanding thighs.
When I lost some weight pre-op, I lowered the tilt some, but thought there was at least one more adjustment. Well, on my way home from work yesterday, I noticed there was quite a bit of space between my legs and the wheel. When I got home, I went to adjust the wheel and ...thunk...thunk...it couldn't get any lower! I was happy and in shock!
I know I have a long way to go still, but for me, this was one small reminder that things are getting better.

I ran half marathons with my lap band. Now that I am newly sleeved I plan on training for a half marathon in april and a full marathon in Oct.

When I want to keep my hands busy, I give myself a manicure. I get cuticle cream, a couple of types of files, nail clippers, etc and give myself the works. I even have one of those paraffin dip vessels and really treat myself.
Something else you could do?
Organize old pictures into albums.
Write an old fashioned letter with pen and paper to someone you love
Address a card and enclose a note to someone either celebrating something or enduring something (this could be birthday, new baby, promotion, sympathy, or just a "thinking of you" card)
Give yourself a pedicure
Put a deep conditioner on your hair and cover it with warm towels
Give yourself a facial
Plan a home improvement project - even if you really don't need it or can't afford it, no one says you can't dream and plan it. Get some design magazines or check the internet.
Polish your leather shoes
Organize your clothes by sizes. Get your three boxes ready - Keep, Donate and Throw Away
Bring one drawer at a time into the TV room and clean and organize your drawers. Get new shelf paper and line all of the drawers with shelf paper.
Find an organization you support and find out if they need volunteers to do things for them that you could do at home (stuff envelopes, etc).
Check with your local child protective services office or homeless shelter and see if they need baby blankets. If you knit or crochet, work on blankets for a good cause.

There are a lot of positive things you can do with your hands - pamper yourself, improve yourself, keep in contact with someone you love, help somebody in need, Lots of things to do besides EAT.
Good Luck.
Sharon

so when i woke up this morn and decided to get dressed i put my usual pants on only for the past few days they just don't fit right .. too loose.. he he he.. so i went into my room to see if i had anything smaller and i pulled out a pair of pants i bought about 3 years ago i wore these pants a total of about 5 times. .i always said one of these days ill fit in these again..
And for shits and giggles, honestly not thinking they would fit, tried them on anyways....
i had lost enough weight so far to wear them... and not just wear them, but wear them comfortably... funny part is.. half way thru the day i realized something.. they were starting to get a little loose which mean i still wont be able to wear these things for long cuz im just gonna keep losing weight...
so i called up a friend and asked her if she would like if i set my pants aside for her... lol
i think this would be an nsv? right?

I've read it's a reaction caused from the shock and stress of the surgery and has nothing to do with Protein or anything else.
I have had a few surgeries and always lose hair a few months after so I tend to agree with this.

Hello,
The hospital should have a patient advocate that you can call and I would call them ASAP. Make your voice heard. They are caring for YOU and your opinion and concerns should be addressed. You know your body better than they do.
I hope it all gets better from here. Remember you are your biggest advocate.

I want to run my first 10k and start training for a half marathon. I just started running this year and I LOVE it. I have done 3 5ks and new years eve will be my 4th.
I also want to learn to love myself, it will take longer then a year but I have to start somewhere.

This is definately a tough one. Written word like this can take the emotion out of true context the author intends. Often, it is interpretted by the emotional state of the reader at the time. There are several studies on this. In this day and age of the quick instant message, the phone text and the pocket forums, people don't take the time and don't have the skill to relate enough information to convey the emotion behind their meaning. If the reader is feeling vulnerable, they can interpret it as being attacked. If they are in a good mood, it could be interpreted as humorous or the author pathetic, while if in a sympathetic mood, interpreted as helpful.
I know I am guilty of this ... giving my 2 cents in as quickly as possible. But, I am also a grown up and know not to take things people write in a forum to heart. These are all suggestions and it is up to me to take the snippets of what I find may work for me. I want honesty and grant others the same respect by returning that honesty. Like I told my wife on our first date, "Don't ask me any question to which you don't want the answer, because I will tell you the truth."
Sometimes, I probably just need to step away from the forum for awhile. After reading the same post from 5 different people complaining about being in a stall, but admit they are not eating the right foods and not exercising ... Or another one of my favorites from those who have tried 3 different Protein shakes and have given up ... They don't want honesty. They know what they have to do. We all do. Sure, there is going to be the 1% who never had a consult with a dietician or their surgeon never mentioned xxx. But the other 99% have been told. It is here on the forum to be searched. There is Google. These folks may need some tough love.
I guess my advice to all is:
Don't post a question to which you don't want to know the truth.
If a response does offend, know that it is based in love, though it may be laced with frustration.
Try to take your emotion out when reading and be objective.
Post in the correct forum. If you are looking for some reassurance, perhaps the Post-Op forum is not the right place. Place your post in the right context by choosing the right place.

I want to help all those who are also willing to help themselves. Let's all do this together.

I was running...ok, jogging (LOL), before surgery and have been jogging since week 3 (I'm almost 6 weeks out now). Even though I'm still really heavy, my body seems to handle it just fine (I was super athletic up until about 10 years ago). The main reason I chose the sleeve over RNY was because I want to do triathlons and I wanted to be sure that I could fuel my body with the necessary carbs in order to complete an endurance race. I will be doing my first tri in June 2012!!!!!

Just wondering if you can provide yourself with enough fuel to get through a marathon or even a half?
I started running this year and I love it! Im hoping after surgery my times will improve but Im worried about the long distance runs

I started this whole procedure in Jan of 2011 and then I backed out. I decided to hire a personal trainer, start eating right and go to the gym regularly. I am starting all over again in December and I am kicking myself for thinking I could do it without the sleeve. I would have been sleeved by now. I had the overwhelming feeling I was going to die in February so I left my program Oh well better late then never right?