Paola

The video is a great visual aid for what happens when you eat and drink at the same time. Yesterday I read this paper about the guidelines to follow after the surgery and it was really great, it refreshed my memory on things I had read before. The paper tells you to think of your new stomach as a sink, like the video showed solids will take a long time to drain, therefore you will feel full for longer, and you won't want to eat; you will consume less calories. When you add Water the food in your stomach will drain faster and you won't be full for long, you'll get hungry and eat more calories. Another thing the paper emphasized was that after the liquid/mushy phase, eat solid foods rather than caloric drinks. liquids will always drain faster down the sink (your stomach) than solids. The idea of the small stomach is to eat less, and if we are full we will eat less. http://www.laplose.com/Media/Forms/SleeveDietGuide.pdf Here's the link to the paper Hopes this helps!

a very inspiring story, god bless you in this journey!

Thanks for the warm welcome

Why do vitamins for bariatric patients (like celebrate vitamins) have such a high percentage of vitamins? When I look at the nutrition facts I see that most of the vitamins have a 300% or a higher %. After surgery do we need that high a percentage?

Hello everyone, I have been hanging around the forum for some time and thought it was about time I told my story. My name is Paola and I am from Dominican Republic, about 8 years ago I moved to Florida with my mom and sisters. For as long as I can remember I have been overweight, I remember that every summer vacation my parents would put me on a new diet and force me to walk. I love my parents for the effort they put forth, and I know that my obesity only increased during the years because it was me who wasn't trying, the people that love us can only do so much. I hate when people look at me and make comments about how negligent my parents must have been. Last Christmas I traveled to DR to visit my dad and he offered to pay for a surgery to reduce the size of my stomach, however at that time I was being stubborn and I told my dad that I could lose wight on my own. by June, 2011 I came to the realization that I was tired of being so big, and that I needed a little help. I realized that having surgery didn't mean I was giving up on my ability to lose weight, but that I was being given a tool to help me with my goal. That same day, I called my dad, and he said I support you, and I will help you make that surgery happen. 3 months later I am only waiting to lose about 10 more pounds to have a surgery date. I have been very blessed with a supportive family, and an amazing faith, and " I say no to being big all my life"

If you really need to take protein, you could always get the unflavored kind (now foods has an excellent unflavored protein isolate) and mix it into your milk, tea, or juice.

Thanks for the moisturizers tip

Thank you, I didn't know about the Fluid

I am going to have my sleeve done soon, and I have a ton of weight to shed, about 200 pounds. To be honest my family is driving me a little crazy talking about sagging skin, and how I will need to have cosmetic surgery done later; what kind of exercises should be done to minimize any excess skin problems after the surgery?

thank you so much, very helpful

Who takes the drain off?

After surgey when should you start doing exercises, and what kind? Are the toning band exercises good to prevent loose/sagging skin? If not which exercises are good for it?

Thanks for answering! not worried about the staples anymore.

Last night while I was drifting off to sleep this question popped to my head: What happens with the staples? Are they left in your stomach forever? Do they rust? Do they come loose at some point?

Thanks for answering, I had asked some other questions and a drain was mentioned, and I was in limbo.

This might be a stupid question, but what is a drain?

Thank you all for answering!

I decided a few days ago to have the sleeve done in a very near future, I have been researching the procedure and have found some great information about it. What I would like to know is what to really expect the week after being discharged from the hospital, is your stomach swollen, how long does it hurt for, are you on bed rest, things like that. I know everybody is different, but I would like to have an idea of what to expect. Thank you for taking the time to answer, Paola

On average, how long do you stay at the hospital after being sleeved?

Don't really know what he says yet, just decided on the surgery a few days ago and haven't yet met my doctor. But I can ask my nutritionist, just as soon as I get hold of him, its my dad

I was thinking of the shots just in case I was having a hard time with liquids right after the surgery, I just decided on the surgery a few days ago and want to be as well informed as can be

I see that there are different kinds of Proteins, which one are you supposed to take during the liquid phase: Protein isolate, concentrate, or blend? And are the protein shots allowed during this phase? Thank you for taking the time to answer, Paola