serenekolaski

I go in fri for the surgery

I can eat 3 maybe 4 ounces at 5 weeks out....yes, I'm hungry every 2 hours.

Sounds like WAY too much to me. You are only 3 days out! At this point I was on liquids only, so no banana or yogurt. I was lucky to get in one Protein Shake, sipped on throughout the day, sips of Water, and maybe 1/2 cup of broth total split into about 3 servings. Your stomach has just undergone a MAJOR trauma, and you have a very fresh staple and suture line; please do not overdue it and risk tearing it!
I say this out of pure concern and not to be rude, but how can you be already mourning over food and wanting a chicken strip? You are only 3 days out, you have a very long road ahead of you. I can honestly say that I did not mind being on the liquid and mushy phases, I knew it was all temporary and part of the process. I think it is a little concerning that you are already, at this early stage, thinking about what you can't have. Enjoy the process, it does work. I hope you do not take offense to this, I truly do mean it out of support. I think a positive attitude has everything to do with our success. Good luck to you, and remember we are all here to help when we can

I don't know about anybody else..but since losing 64# ..I Just wanna have more!!! And granted..my hubby absolutely doesn't mind obliging me any time! In fact..he seems much happier..lol.. So ..anybody else feeling friskier?? Lord knows I am!!!!

Hey everyone! Sorry my post is a little late, it's been a busy month. Even though I'm not losing any more, I continue to post updates because I know when I was starting out, that's what go me through rough Patches and I loved seeing before and afters. I just got back from Vegas on the 29th and still picking up all my clothes that I got while shopping, lol. I have to say it was the best Vegas trip ever. My mom and I always go and use to just stick to shoes and purses but it was so nice this year to go and be able to clothes shop as well. Wow, I feel like a normal human being for the first time in my life.
As for an update on my weight loss itself, I am now hanging in a range between 150-153. I found that this is where my body wanted to stop. My goal was 160 but my body just kept losing and I guess it's now happy where it is at. I have had quite a few people tell me that your body knows where it is happy and will stop there. I started at 308lbs and am down to 152lbs roughly for a weight loss of 156lbs, so I pretty much lost a me! LOL!
Shopping is my new addiction, an expensive one but I think I have finally gotten a closet of clothes that fits my new body and have given away all my old clothes. I started at a size 26 pants and am now in a 8 and my tops use to be 3x/4x and am now in a medium in most tops.
Like I tell everyone, this is the best thing that I have ever done for myself. If you are just starting on your journey, trust in your sleeve and treat it right and it will be good to you. For those of you that are a few months out, keep going, while you think today is great, tomorrow and the days to come will even be better, especially when you get to goal. Thanks to everyone here for your constant love and support and words of encouragement!

We LOOOOOVE sushi!!! I'm 4 1/2 months out though. I can eat 5-7 rolls before I feel like i'm going to bust, so I try to stop at 5. But it's SOOO good! I eat the rice too because I get so much Protein during the day, that the rice in 5 rolls doesn't amount to much at all. As long as I keep track on My Fitness Pal, it's all good!

As of today, I have lost a total of 102 lbs!!!!! I am down from 325 to 223. I still have a ways to go, but my next goal is to get under 200lbs. It is falling off much quicker than I expected. I was just sleeved 4.5 months ago. Since the surgery, I have lost 87lbs. I have gone from a size 30 in jeans to a size 16/18 and a 4x in tops to a XL. I feel so much better, but can't wait to lose the next 50-65 lbs. I hope to be at goal by Christmas. Just wanted to share my excitement with you all.  

The Chobani Champions has 13g of sugar in each serving. The drinkable yogurt however, only has 8g.
Sent from my SGH-T679 using VST

I know exactly how you feel. No offense to you older sleevers but the majority of the people in my support group at the hospital are older. Most of them say "as long as I'm healthy, I don't care what size I am." Am I a little vain to want something MORE? I usually say the same spiel they do just so I don't look like an ungrateful "youngster." Lol. I tell people I would be happy to be a size 8 or 10, but I secretly want to be a 4 or 6.

For me, it's not being a size 2 or 4... I would be happy to be an 8. BUT - I want BOOTS, tall boots that zip up and fit my calf, boots that I can tuck my jeans into. The day that happens I will be jumping up and down in the shoe store!

I was sleeved on March 14 after converting from band. Starting weight was 247 and current weight is 195. That's 52 lbs lost. I can tell a small change in the size of my stomach but I'm hoping I will be able to notice more changes as time goes on.

This is not so much a recipe as a method. It's perfect for hot summer days. Now that I'm more than a year out, I'm still looking for ways to focus on getting my Protein in. My sleeve is super-picky STILL and doesn't like most meat/chicken/certain types of fish, but he LOVES shellfish and veggies. My husband and I love sushi and used to eat Thai food a lot pre-surgery (we're both sleevers). I decided to try making spring rolls at home, and it's SUPER easy and really tasty, plus I get in some good Protein. For us, it's a no-cook meal, since we live in Louisiana and have easy access to excellent pre-cooked shrimp at every grocery in town.
I use the regular-size spring roll wrappers; we get them at our local grocery, but you can order them online or through Amazon if your grocery doesn't have them; you can also find them at international or Asian food groceries. Ours are actually made with wheat flour, but they come made from rice, too. They're super thin; I "guesstimate" that one wrapper has probably 40-50 calories.
Just roll up whatever you want--I julienne some cucumber, shred some carrot, slice some boiled shrimp, and spoon up some "krab salad" (that surimi stuff that mimics crab). Sometimes I use those cellophane bean noodles--all you do to prepare those is soak them in warm Water and drain thoroughly. We use some shredded lettuce or cabbage--whatever sounds good and that we have in the house--and a bit of cilantro. If you hate cilantro, just leave it out or substitute some basil or mint. Then we just wrap these up in a wrapper, seal with a wet finger, and chow down. We dip in whatever sounds good, soy sauce or my personal favorite, a mix of Thai chili sauce (it's really sweet and hot) and soy sauce. Sometimes I sprinkle the lettuce with rice wine vinegar; sometimes I forget that. :-)
Perfect post-sleeve portion--one spring roll works for me, and two for my husband. We keep the fixin's in the fridge for a quick meal/snack, and they're fast to put together.
If you live somewhere without fresh shrimp available, you can absolutely get those flash-frozen shrimp and thaw a couple at a time for use in your spring rolls. You can also use grilled chicken, if your sleeve is cool with chicken, and sometimes I sneak in a piece of avocado--ups the yummy factor!! Enjoy!

Ok, folks I am new to this forum, I want to share my story to hopefully help some of you stay on track and to hopefully get myself back on track. In May of 1999 I had the VSG surgery, I was at 350 lbs and in less than a year I was down to 255 when I stopped losing weight. I should back up and tell you I was a police officer fro 20 years, when I cam out of the police academy in the early 1990's I was 267 with 12 % body fat, running 5 to 7 miles a day and very healthy. Overtime the drive throughs and my constant schedule chages helped me to gain weight. After I had the vsg I felt great, I was back to exercising, but I still didn't eat the best. I will say I pretty much hate the color green oh and I didn't metion yet that Diet Pepsi is like crack to a crack addict for me. So over the last 15 years I have been putting the weight on once I got back to my orginal start weight I pretty much through in the towel and didn't really care. I marked it up as a failure which has never been my norm. I am up to 473 pounds and I have had enough. I have contacted my local hospital and will be meeting there staff to see what I can do. I am hoping to be able to get a vsg pouch back to working if that is possible. What I want to say to all of you brave people is DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING WITH YOUR MEALS NOT EVEN A LITTLE. AND NEVER QUIT YOUR EXERCIS EVEN FOR ONE DAY. AND NO MATTER WHAT NO SODA.
I will keep you all posted as I will look for stength and encouragement as I start this journey again.
Steve

First let me say I feel fabulous! I've lost over 70 pounds in just over 5 months. I went from a 22 to a very comfy 12. The road has not been easy and for all you newbies...here is my list of amazing highs...and of not so sunshiny lows.
Disclaimer: This is my experience...it may not be yours.

It will be uncomfortable for a few days post op
I was not hungry for weeks after surgery
I was scared to eat or drink and I didn’t drink enough...thus Constipation and weakness
I didn't feel normal for about 6 weeks. I needed naps and I took them
The weight literally falls off...seriously I was looking for pools of fat in bed when I woke up in the morning
I hit the 4 week stall and it lasted two weeks. Expect it and don't stress
On day three, I had a massive freak out…seriously threw a four year old fit…pissed off my stomach was gone.
No one noticed for months and that irritated me.
EVERYONE notices now and it's all they want to talk about.
Don’t tell anyone you are going to Mexico to have your stomach cut off unless you trust them completely.
I threw up alot...just slime mostly...while I was learning my new tummy. It will scare you and if you are like me…it will happen a lot when you transition to solid foods.
food addiction does not magically go away...if you have a problem before..you will still have it. I think about food all the time, but I finally have a way to resist it. I am a sugar addict. I never crave carbs, but I crave sugar like a mad woman.
Going out to dinner is awkward. I hate watching people eat
Put the lotion on the skin! My skin got really dry.
I’ve lost half my hair at 4.5 months post op. Mine came out in chunks. Freaked me out! Our Golden Retriever and I are in a competition for shedding. It will be ok. Take your Vitamins and buy Nioxin. It doesn’t help my Hair loss, but I feel like I am at least doing something about it.
Don’t take a powerful laxative when you are constipated…especially before your child’s school performance. It may say “See results in 2-4 hours” but it means 30 mins and then you’re stuck on a mini toilet with both legs numb, crying to everything holy to save you.
Shopping is amazing! I still feel like people are looking at me like I don’t belong there…but that’s all in my head.
My shoes no longer fit. they are too wide now!
Your pre WLS Spanx will look huge in a couple months
Trust me…put some Granola bars in your glove box and a few packs of mixed nuts. Sometimes your hungry and there is nothing that you can eat.
Handy meals from the market or gas station when you didn’t plan ahead. Single string cheese, an apple, mixed nuts, readymade hard boiled eggs, The inside of California rolls- no rice, campbells Soup at hand or ready made Soup in a coffee cup.
Handy items at fast food places that sit ok on my tummy include: Taco Bells refried Beans or the inside of a chicken taco. Wendys chili, McDonalds oatmeal, McDonalds yogurt parfait
I feel guilty in front of my heavier friends. I always try to wear a sweatshirt so I don’t rub the weight loss in their faces.
You get drunk really fast...like a half glass of wine. Be careful...it sneaks up on you...and before you know it, you’re waiting for your hubby to pick you up...from less than a glass. Its crazy. I don't really even try anymore to drink.
I crave raw fish, cooked fish, broiled fish, grilled fish...any fish really and it feels amazing on my tummy.
I cant eat steak
I love that I have collar bones
I update my Facebook pictures and secretly love the compliments
I own a woman's North Face now
I can buy bras at Victoria's secret
I pack all my food for work in snack bags and the little tupperware containers for salad dressing.
I can still have M&M's...its just like 9...instead of the king size bags
Take heartburn medicine everyday...don’t wait until you get heartburn.
Buy stock in Maalox
You can have a full meal at Costco- samples + WLS = Cheap Date!
Food Portion jokes get really old
Fast food burgers makes me want to vomit.
At 5 months...salad is wonderful. I can eat about a cup of greens...which takes me a while and I feel a tiny bit normal.
Post-op, If you can swing it, buy a Vita-Mix blender and make your own soup. Canned soup was nasty right after surgery. Freeze them in 4oz canning jars. It will be two servings.
Quit Smoking before surgery. I waited and it slowed my healing. It also gave me terrible heartburn. I am 5 weeks smoke free
You don't have to "confess" you had WLS. It's ok to say thank you for the compliment and not feel guilty. I'm just now starting to accept that I had a little something to do with this insane loss. I tell people when they ask now how I lost the weight, that i exercise and use Portion Control.< br /> People will treat you different. Salesladies ask if I need assistance, men hold open doors and the skinny girls at work talk to me now. It's shallow and pisses me off, but it's nice to not be invisible anymore.
WLS is very difficult. For me, it’s not physical, but the mental. Sometimes I just want a cheesecake like before. It goes away very quickly, but it still comes and goes. Sometimes I get angry at my sleeve because I can’t eat something I see others eating. Most of the time I have to hide my expression when I see people shovel food in the way I used to. It’s shocking to see when you’re on the other side of WLS. I used to inhale my food like a tiny food thief was going to come in and take it away from me.
You will have to say no to your family when they all want to go to a Chinese buffet. I’m still not ready to walk in and be near a buffet.
It feels awesome to give your clothes away, however, do not offer them to your heavier friends. It’s insensitive and they won’t return your calls for a week.
Last one...I played laser tag this past weekend with a bunch of 9 year old boys. It was soooo Much fun!!!

Please feel free to add any other thoughts or tips...

Didn't know it could help hangnails ... but I'm pretty sure I sing better now.

With a whopping 6 pound loss, raven8888 is our biggest loser winner!!! Congratulations,,great job!!!

You're far better off without them. I quit 3 years ago, and even still get the urge to light up every now and then. But I know I can't. I've worked too hard and gone far too long to change it. And even though it's only been a few month neither should you!

Thanks for the replies!! Serene - your postive attitude is awesome! My husband and I want another baby as well. We have two great little boys but do want at least another. I do not want to get pregnant at the weight I am at. I am a labor and delivery nurse and I can see the problems that go along with obesity and pregnancy. The surgery still makes me nervous but I am praying about it. I am meeting with the doctor tomorrow to get things scheduled and for him to answer more questions I have.
Girliegirl - I still have my band and have had it since Sept 2011. I TOTALLY understand what you are saying about long term problems. A few people I know are very much against me doing this surgery. They have mentioned where are the studies for long term? All those thoughts do cross my mind but I also think about if I continue at the weight I am at ( 250) then all the health issues that can come with that.. heart disease, diabetes..etc.
Amy

All I can say to all u ladies Do it Do it Do it!!!yes I was only sleeved on may 30th but its been great.I mean yes u gave ur own personal demons but that's what they r demons!!! Tell them to leave! This is ur time! At first yes ur like” I'll never eat real food....” That is a lie u just have to build back up to it. Its like a baby u wouldn't give them a solid streak as a new born u give them milk, then pureed food, then soft food then, then solid. If u go in with that positive mind set uk be amazing..
I'm 32 have a 2 yr old I have had pcos since I was 13 have half an overie, endometritis, gout, my soon was a miracle.but I deff. Needed to do something so I could have more babies.so glad I did. I was 306 and today I am at 285 already down 21 pound!!!!!! Woot woot u Girls can do it!!!!!

So I was out and about today and wanted a little pick me so I got a small diet lemonade from Chick-fil-A. NEVER AGAIN! I drank maybe 1/3 of it and the pain was so excruciating I thought I saw Jesus. It burned, it hurt, I got the shakes. All I could do was sit in the car cry. But other than that I am doing great
Today's lesson: Just say no to lemonade!

Protein drinks from grocery stores typically have too much sugar. I drink the Premier shakes from costco.

Thanks y'all for the quick replies. A friend of mine I met on here reminded about the heating pad. It is making a world of difference. Good to know I can give myself a little break on the Protein and just concentrate on my Water. Yesterday, I got over 50 ounces which I thought was pretty good this early out. I'm definitely not getting dehydrated. I will work on Protein after I heal just a bit. I'm usually not a weenie when it comes to pain, but after this surgery I sure feel like one! I do feel somewhat better and less hopeless after reading your posts and now that my pain is down to around a 2 or 3 from the 6 or 7 it was when I made the original post.

At only two days out, you don't need to worry too much about getting your Protein. Yes it is important, but hydration is more important. Keeping drinking Water. As for the pain, if your doctor prescribed a pain med, be sure to take it, especially if it is in liquid form. My doctor gave me liquid Lortab and it was great. Being liquid it went straight to the source of the discomfort and stopped the pain right a way. I only had to use it for about 3 nights and not at all in the daytime. It does get better. Just give yourself a little more time and get the protein when you can.

Have two job opportunities coming up and I want you guys to just pray I'll get the right one. One is 3 days, 12 hr shifts (which I prefer) other is 5 days 8 hr shifts, but closer to home in a hospital I love. Please just pray for me you guys, I think I need the second one- I have an interview on Tuesday the 12th (also my anniversary)

Kim,
Hang in there! That is my worst nightmare. I am going to be sleeved on July 19th and I am sick of the stigma that I am taking the "easy" way out. I don't think there is anything easy about the decision to take your life back into control.
I'll be praying girl!
~Carly