frpringle

Highest: 450 lbs. VSG date: 11/7/11 Pre VSG loss: 35 lbs. To date loss: 170 lbs Current weight: 280 lbs. One year goal: 220 lbs. lost, 50 lbs. more to go!!

the protein shake is something you will be sipping on all day long basically. I started eating solids about a week out without any problems at all. I mostly eat chicken for my protein but I also have these protein shots that I drink if I notice i'm not at my protein intake for the day, they have 40 grams of protein and are cheap! I also buy nuts now and eat those for snacks, Bolthouse Farms protein shakes are good too if you want something different. My nutritionist recommended those to us. I also like string cheese for a snack too, it's high in protein and it fills me up.

For a while I would stall for 2 weeks and then lose 20-30 lbs in the following 2 weeks. It was really weird to me but then I figured it was probably from my period starting again and I was holding Water weight and bloating. It wasn't until I noticed the pattern that I realized it was 2 weeks on 2 weeks off kind of thing.

I just started stalling at the 6 month mark. When I do notice I'm stalling, I basically readjust back to my original diet which was a high protein salad for a few meals and measure everything, time myself while eating, and so on. It basically gets me going again and I drop 3-5 lbs in just a matter of days and it gets steady again.

I waited 4 months before eating any of those. My surgeon suggested waiting because the skins or pieces of them can get stuck in your sutures in your stomach and possibly cause an infection.

It was explained to me that the straw and gum chewing causes you to swallow air, which can cause stretching to the pouch. Soda, well that's a given with the carbonation, that's just not good to have, it does stretch your pouch. Coffee was not restricted for me, just caffeine. The only thing they told me about coffee is that because it's acidic, it can cause discomfort and possibly cause ulcers in your stomach because of the acid if you have too much. I know people who have had the surgery and drink diet pop regularly without any problems. I guess it just depends on the person and personal control to not go back to the bad habits that got them in the situation of needing surgery in the first place.

The best advice I got and use when I notice I'm eating faster is to use a kiddie spoon/fork for smaller bites and wait 2 minutes in-between each bite. That way you know you have chewed really good, you are taking really small bites and you know for sure you are not eating too fast. I have gotten to where I don't really need to do that anymore, but sometimes I catch myself going too fast and I just go right back to timing myself.

Have you talked to your doctor or dietician about it yet? I've had small stalls along the way and I just recheck what I'm doing and I'm off again. That would be my best advice. What's your diet like?

I actually haven't been following anything in particular anymore, other then eating protein bars while I'm out instead of buying food and drinking lots of water. I have been really overwhelmed by a lot of things going on in my personal life these last 2 months do exercise has been hit & miss. I just try to makes sure if I can't exercise I'm making up for it with my diet.

Don't get yourself down! It sounds like you are doing good. I got upset at my 3 month post-op because I was 2 lbs shy of 100 and I felt like I had screwed something up! My surgeon couldn't believe how upset I was over 2 little pounds when I have come so far, lol. Just keep your head in it and change something up. Meet with for dietician or exercise consult again and see if there's something you might be missing. I think your doing great and keep up the good work!

I was eating solid foods 4 days out. It freaked me out a little bit, that I was already able to eat solids, but it's different for everyone I guess. There's some things that I still can't eat that my friend who had the surgery could eat, and vice-versa. I hope things get better for you soon and the doctor can figure out what is causing this, I can only imagine how frustrating and painful it must be! Keep us posted!

Just because the average is less than you would like to lose doesn't mean that that's all you will loose. If that's the case, then I'd be almost there, and I'm no where close to slowing down. Some people don't use the surgery as the tool in which it's intended. They destroy themselves by not following the right diet and having the right dedication to change their lives. Sometimes the surgery doesn't work for others like it does some. You have to remember everyone is different, therefore different results each time. The benefits of the surgery were far greater then the disadvantages, for me anyway. Even if I only got to 60% of my access body weight lost, that's 60% less weight then I was carrying before. You have to make the decision for yourself, but if you do what you are told and use the tool your being given as you should, there's no reason why you can't be successful and get to the goal you are setting for yourself. Also, just think about if you choose to not have the surgery, are you going to be happy with where you are at and where you might get to?