carlab51

I use WW for accountability - only online, I don't go to meetings. I have been a continual member since January 2010. However, since starting my WLS journey, I have not followed their program/points system. I still am at a very high weight, so the plan assigns me a lot of points, both daily and weekly. In fact, too much for a VSG patient. Also the plan is open to having people eat whatever foods they want - not exactly what we are supposed to do post-surgery.
I would never follow their plan now, since it goes against my surgeon's/NUT's food plan for me and it would be way too many calories in a day. It is my choice to continue paying the money - because honestly, I love having 4 years of weight loss (and gain, ouch!) data at my fingertips, and having the pressure of a weigh-in every Monday without fail. I can see no benefit in starting again on their "food" plan, since it's not what I would call an acceptable post-surgery VSG diet.
I hope you decide to check in with your surgeon and NUT, and maybe look into the support groups option, because the WW "diet" is probably not the right thing at this point in the journey. Good luck!

Good for you!!! You are doing crazy awesome!

Thank you everyone! It was time to change and that's exactly what I did. I'm still the same person inside but not outside. It is refreshing to have a site where you can share the positives and negatives and not feel judged! Glad to have you all

Well I'm out 137 days and down 140lbs... Best decision I have ever made and I'm not taking anymore medication besides my Vitamins and B12 injection. I'm 36 yrs old married with 2 wonderful sons and I am feeling amazing!

For the record I have not had my surgery yet. That comes on the 6th. But I do have orders already from the doctor.
Phase 3.Soft food diet that we begin in our 4th week. Here are some options that they have given us.
Soft foods are comprised of: things that are easily chewed and will mush up in your mouth easily.
Examples:
scrambled or soft cooked eggs
cottage cheese
cottage cheese w/pureed fruit
refried Beans
tuna, salmon, chicken, or egg salad mixed well with low fat mayo
chicken leg or thigh meat
soft cooked veggies
mac-n-cheese
whole wheat grains
meats that are cooked to really soft consistency-crockpot, pressure cooker
Soft cooked or stewed fruits
oatmeal, cream of wheat, grits
moist meatloaf, turkey loaf
Soups that have easy to chew veggies and meats
I know there are some items on this list that will make somes jaw drop open like the mac-n-cheese and whole wheat grains. However they are not harmful in moderation and remember we are still healing and in need of some soft foods. Some doctors may recommend other things, this is just what my doctor says are options for us to try at this stage that others have done well with.
Good luck to you.

Personally I hate everyone who can eat a normal meal right now so I feel you.

(((Hugs))) Yes, those hormones are RAGING right now. Things will get better, especially once you're cleared for solid food! Try some decaf tea or flavored water (mio drops, yeah!) to avoid dehydration and know that this will pass. Soon you'll be past this stage and wondering why you felt so crazy for a few days. It DOES get better quickly, although it's hard to realize that right this minute.
Good luck!! (PS Don't kill anyone right now. You'll like them better in a few days, too!)

Ya know even as a big mama I was always freezing LOL!
I think the main con for me, is not being able to drink with my mini meals ...yup I think that's really it for me.

When I was on clears the only Proteins I had were unflavored added to broth - my list of okay foods didn't include Protein shakes at that point.
Only you know what you'll like but

I am 2 months Post-Op and my biggest problem with my sleeve is eating out! It is not ordering food, because I am on regular food. It is telling the wait staff I do not want a drink with my food. I am treated like a space alien, when I say "I do not want anything to drink." The wait staff will circle back around and check to make sure I do not want anything to drink and look at me like I am crazy. I love it! On Thursday, The Olive Garden waiter felt I needed a water, so he brought me one, even though I did not ask for a drink. I think I am going to start telling them I have a water/soda allergy! Lets see how they react. Honestly, other than throwing up a few times from accidentally overfilling my pouch, that is the only problem I have. Pre-ops, feel comfortable knowing life goes back to normal pretty much after six weeks, but your stomach limits you and I love it. I just finished eating 10 wheat thins with cheese and I feel satisfied. Before, I would eat the box. So feel confident that the sleeve works out. Read my blog, if you want more tips! Happy Journey!

I did give them the date. They say it wasn't done. I have a receipt bc I'm a cash pay patient, so I've PAID for this test! I will not pay again. Their screw up not mine!

If you worried about naseau after surgery ask your doctor about emend...I took it 2 hours before surgery and it helped a lot. I had no problems whatsoever

Yes, you will be able to eat normal food again, just not as much as you were used to before being sleeved. The first few weeks after being sleeved are the hardest, in my humble opinion. If you're like me, you're feeling very deprived and very hopeless. Everything tasted funky to me those first few weeks too. And I couldn't stand the smell of a Protein shake, much less the taste...lol.
It will get better. I started feeling so much better after I was able to make the switch to soft food. My nutritionist told me not to worry about getting enough protein in the first few weeks. With all the changes your body is going through, what you're experiencing seems to be par for the course. Just hang in there, and try to distract yourself as best you can.

I would like to give anyone out there some info from my experience. I have to do a combo of clear and full liquid diet for one week to shrink my liver and I started it one week in advance for these reasons: I thought I was going to mess up and I wanted to get use to it in advance. I had a lot of low blood sugars and now ( day 5) I've learned how to maintain my sugar and my crankiness and moodiness has gone away. I have kept in touch with my doctor and all is well. So point being, all of u who are worried about pre op being hard, I suggest starting it a little early. Good luck everyone. Susie

Too funny!!!

I quit cold turkey two weeks prior to surgery. No complications here. A lil flem but only first day after surgery. I'm still smoke free almost a month out

I'm not here to judge...cause God know's and I know that the pre-op diet is extremely difficult. But ask yourself this. The pre-op diet for me was the ultimate test. If I could not get myself to comply with the 2 week diet then why in the world would I make this life-long commitment.
I have now been post op for less than a week....and let me tell you something....the hunger does not competely go away. My stomach might be full but my brain wants to keep eating.
Make sure you are ready to make this commitment.

Pshaw - don't believe them - it is an abbreviation for my mother-in-law
:/

As the self-appointed unofficial chairman of the July Sleevers, I'd like to welcome you to our party lol - Not to mention I'm a July 2nd'er too!

The head doc i met with said that most over weight people are "all or nothing" type people. I know that resonated with me, because in the past when I cheated on a diet, I just said, the heck with this, and kept eating poorly. He said that I need to forget about the times I slip up, and concentrate on making the good decision 80-90% of the time. That way the 10-20% that I chose badly will not hurt me. Not sure if that will be helpfull for you, but it hits home with me.
Don't forget that we are all human and none of us are perfect, nor will we ever be. If you make the right choice the majority of the time, then you will come out on top!!
Good luck!

I only told family at first. After I had the surgery and lost 60 pounds,,I posted on facebook for everyone..not one negative comment. I think people compare wls to cosmetic surgery,,some easy way out to look good. It's so far from the truth, it's hard work,,I think it's been harder because it's forcing me to change and when you've been a certain way for 47 years,,it's not easy changing. I think people who are overweight that give negative opinions about wls aren't really jealous but maybe wish they had thought of it first and are too proud to admit it. Our loved ones and friends just worry when they hear surgery,,I know if my daughter came to me and said she had to have surgery (whatever type) I would be worried and want her to get a second opinion so sometimes negative comments are just some peoples way of saying,,I love and care about you,,I really hate to see you go through all of this..and because they think we can do it without surgery because they are skinny and have no clue what we are going through. Try to always keep this in mind when you tell someone and they don't respond the way you want them to. Even thank them for caring..I even told some that I would consider what they had to say and appreciate their opinion,,but I did what I wanted anyway.lol It hasn't been an easy road either,,it was difficult to tell those people I ended up with a leak then I felt like I had to convince them and myself that I did the right thing. It's like others have said, you will have to fight a good battle and show the proof to get the respect that wls deserves. Sorry I rambled on.

Hi all... Had my post op visit yesterday. Found out I'm doing great (Yay!), but also found out I have another 12 days on liquids...
I've really struggled to barely get 24-32 oz in each day. I've tried the 1 oz cups every 15 minutes but when I try to force myself to drink I vet really nauseous and begin to get chest pains.
I know I should mainly be worried about my fluids, but I'm also concerned about lack of Protein. I found these Odwalla drinks at the grocery store today.... Kind of high in calories but 15 grams of protein! I bought 2 just to see if I could manage it and so far so good.

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I wouldn't mind letting loose 200+ pounds!