EmyWemy

Man vs food use to be my favorite show now it makes me sick to watch it. I'm a man and I have conquered food.

Just wait until your underwear turns into parachutes! Sounds like you are well on your way to getting there

I could never drink them, so I never have and never will!!

I used to love eggs too but now they make me dump. I used to like seasoned foods but now my taste buds are ultra sensitive and I love plain foods like plain oatmeal. On another note my sense of smell is heightened

I want some Greek olives and feta cheese with sliced cucumber ..... That's just the Arab coming out of me

Sorry, the salt thing wasn't weird. I can't top sardines and cottage cheese, but how about peanut butter spread on roast beef or chicken?

I keep pinching myself because I can hardly believe it myself!! It's been ages since I've seen the 100s on the scale and today...IT WAS THERE!!! I am 9 months out and wish I knew last year at this time how rewarding this journey would be! I seriously thought that I would be the one person that VSG would fail on. And now? More energy than I know what to do with!!
Thanks for letting me share!!

I am thankful for seeing your words MinaT...I have friend who has her orientation tonight and I will be meeting her there to be with her. I plan to print out your response so she can read it also if she cares to. It's very good insight and great advice

It's all how you go into the surgery and your mental attitude. Are you going to start working on behavior modification now? Are you already working on getting your 64 ounces of Water in - lowering your carbs to 45-75 and upping Protein to 80 grams?
Are you charting your food or are you planning on going to Mexico and getting the surgery without working on the issues that need to be worked on first?
Are you able to work on getting in a Protein shake for Breakfast to start with and charting your food EVERY day? Charting your water, charting your exercise using something like myfitnesspal.com (know if you do this you will need to change the settings...their settings for 2 pounds allows 168 grams of carbs - you will gain with that many carbs, so you have to set it to 800-900 calories, 45-75 carbs and 80 protein and also add a level for sodium & potassium.
Are you a happy person? You will have to realize that for the first two months your food will be extremely restricted. You will have at least one or two weeks of clears - 2 - 4 weeks of full liquids and then go to purees and then to soft food then to regular food. Regular food size will be reduced DRAMATICALLY. There will be no eating an entire hamburger and fries and shake.
You will become emotional (about 9 days out, most people suffer from some emotional issues. There is suppose to be hormones that are trapped in fat and as you burn fat you tend to become more emotional.
With 4 young children home, will you have someone there to help you. There is no lifting for a while. The first two weeks you will most likely want to nap. You will need help with things.
Eating dinner with the family for the first month will be emotionally hard. It would be easier to feed everyone and then eat on your own until you can handle eating with others. People have posted they have cried because it was hard to watch the family eat. Remember this is your decision and your family is there to support you and they are ALSO going to be going through a change with you and it is unfair to put them through a lot of your emotional turmoil.
If you go into this surgery with a positive attitude and realize that this is for life, the sleeve is only a tool and is not the end all be all and cure all, it's up to you to use the tool wisely and correctly you will be fine. If you go into this expecting this to be a hard and horrible experience and you are going to grieve food and feel like you are being punished the entire time, you will have a hard time.
You don't have to sever your relationship with food, you have to learn food is there for nourishment and not comfort. A husband, a pillow, friends and a dog are there for comfort, food is nourishment, when you can work on that, you will be successful.
I understand a lot of people go to Mexico, but psychological testing to me is imperative for this procedure. I cried when I found out I would need 6 months of monthly meetings with their internist and show my food log, I was furious, I wish I had the money to go to Mexico. However, I see the difference in the way I have approached this surgery compared to others, and feel that if you are going to do this, you need to have the right attitude, the right commitment and know that there are some really hard days involved in this, it's not a walk in the park, but it's something I would do over again. Go into this 100% committed and you will get what you put into it. If you try to stay positive, even when you hurt, even if you can't eat your cheetohs, or steak when the family is, you will be fine.
Good luck. This is just my two cents and book on the subject.

Hi Jiji...I can only speak for my own personal experience and can't address the Mexico part of your question, but for the rest...
Emotionally I felt fine. After having made the final decision to wanting to get the VSG done I was fine mentally. Like most other folks, I love food, and it was always a stress reliever for me - but all this before surgery. After surgery you won't feel physically hungry and will need to remember to drink and eat. I didn't experience any headaches (except for caffeine withdrawals pre-op), but was weak for the first couple of weeks after coming home from the hospital. Keep in mind that this surgery is a tool to jump starting your weight loss (by limiting the amount of food coming in), you'll still need to mentally address the 'head hunger' issues that you may have and what usually triggers them. Currently I find that when I often think I am hungry I take my sips of Water and the hunger issue leaves because my tummy is telling me that I am full.
Personally talking to folks helped for me, and still helps. Perhaps find a group in your area? I haven't run into any who have had the VSG done, but the R n Y folks are totally helpful and I've had some really good advice and feedback on their food experiences prior and post surgery.

Short answer ... Yes, it was difficult to sever that relationship, but it was something that I knew I had to do. I was irritable, grumpy and not at all possible to maintain a happy attitude. food is no longer my comfort companion, so I have to deal with things head-on. Everything changed for me, post-op. I mean everything. Too deep to go into on a forum posting, for sure.
As far as temperment, I had to consciencously make decisions NOT to bite my wife's head off because the toilet paper was hung the wrong direction. Your body gets flooded by hormones stored in your fat. It is a roller coaster, for sure.
But the good news is everything balances out. For me, it was about 6 weeks before I felt totally *normal* and I adapted to my new lifestyle.
It is not easy, for sure. If you think the surgery is a magic bullet, it isn't. There is a lot of work to be done to do it right. You may have to face some skeletons in the closet and examine your relationship with food and your environment.

You know, I have to pity people who would do such an act. Their lives are so miserable they must do some act like that to try to elevate themselves. I am happy that you were able to confront this moment and I hope you realize this was her issue, not yours. For whatever reason she was threatened by you ... your intelligence, your relationship with members of the family, your faith ... something ... This is how bullies behave, whether they're 8 or 80.

Thanks ladies! I do want to become completely healthy! I want to be able to run! I've always wanted to be a runner because I'm fast, even being overweight I am still a good runner, just that u don't have much endurance lol
I'm gonba try the sugar free peppermint stick bc I have a prob with nothing in my hands too. I've been using him but it seems to not work too well. On to other stuff I guess.
Thanks!
Johnathan

People can give you all kinds of weight loss advice and think they know it all. As I continue with my post-op it is surprising to hear all the negative comments I receive, especially from family members. People who comment like this do not realize what we are going through. It takes a lot of guts in my opinion to make the decision to have the VSG. Perhaps your niece may think there might be a competition in it for her and she is already trying to sabotage your efforts. Think strong! You are IN THIS TO WIN IT - for yourself and no one else. I wish you much success in your weight loss!

Hi Johnathan...wish I had some really helpful advice for your pre-op because I know how that urge to smoke feels like since I was a former smoker who loved the menthols and clove ones. I used to carry around sugar-free peppermint sticks and then have that when my urges happened. Gum didn't work for me because I really missed holding the cigarette in my hand so the peppermint sticks helped me better. My dad was a smoker since he was in his teens, had 2 heart attacks, and got to be smoke-free for about 5 years after that. Later on we found out he became a closet smoker and smoked on breaks at work and kept mints in his pocket thinking my mom wouldn't be able to tell. He died in 1996 after suffering his 3rd heart attack. I keep this in mind whenever I try to even think about having a smoke. I hope you hang in there and keep remembering your own reasons for having the surgery. Stay strong!

People can give you all kinds of weight loss advice and think they know it all. As I continue with my post-op it is surprising to hear all the negative comments I receive, especially from family members. People who comment like this do not realize what we are going through. It takes a lot of guts in my opinion to make the decision to have the VSG. Perhaps your niece may think there might be a competition in it for her and she is already trying to sabotage your efforts. Think strong! You are IN THIS TO WIN IT - for yourself and no one else. I wish you much success in your weight loss!

Congrats ChristneS! Welcome to your new post-op life, and it will be fantastic

I would have probably shot back and said "Oh is that what happened to you?" She would say "NO". . . then I would say "oh it's just that you knew that a donut goes down easy so I thought you had tried it" . . . .

Congrats!!! Welcome to the other side It only gets better from here.

Had my surgery yesterday morning. Alittle gassy but I'm ok. I've been sipping water and walking around the hospital floor.

I went to the mall today to return an item, and while I was there I thought I would browse the ladies section and see if anything was on sale. I found a cute shirt, but it was an XL in the regular ladies section. I've been in the women's 16-28 section for quite a few years. Just for sh*ts and giggles, I tried it on and low and behold that sucker fit!! It wasn't until I was on my way home that I realized today is the 26th and I'm exactly three months out. So when I got home I decided to weigh myself to see where I am and I'm down exactly 40 lbs! My eyes nearly popped out of my head, because I am just getting out of a 6 week stall. For six weeks I bounced around the same darn pound. It was so very frustrating. My logical self knew it would eventually end, but when you are in the moment and that moment last 6 weeks all kinds of crazy thoughts run through your head.
Just wanted to share, especially for those who are in the midst of a stall so you know there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

10 lbs.
You can do this.
You have a WHOLE MONTH.
Start NOW. Today. Make a PLAN.

Find something that motivates you. Pictures, new workout clothes, a workout buddy, etc.


Browse online for some low-fat, low-carb, low-cal recepies and get to cooking. Make planning your meals a fun activity. Stick to lean Proteins and leafy greens.


Incorporate Protein shakes into your life- postop they are your lifeline. Find one that works for you and start subsituting one meal a day with them.


Keep a food journal and join My Fitness Pal and make online friends as well as real life friends that know about your goal. Support from others can = accountability from you.

Never forget WHY you are loosing 10lbs. To save your life, enhance the quality of your life, etc.

You CAN do this.

I am currently 12 weeks out, and my temptations are still there. After being advised pre-surgery that I shouldn't eat rice, noodles, or bread for at least a year or longer, or really -- ever. I almost flipped inside my head. I'm now okay if I never eat rice or noodles again, but the smell of bread (any kind) makes me go a little koo-koo. Just last week some co-workers were toasting bagels in the office kitchen that were left over from a meeting and it drove me nuts that I had to take a breather outside.

...love your post