Avillias

So happy to hear your doing better :-)

For the most part the childrens menu may not be the healthiest options...
I am not sure I like the card idea. I am choosing wls. Not the restaurants fault I can't finish a portion.

I've got one, but it was so poorly done, that it looks like a really bad kindergarten craft project.
Thinking that comment over, it's not fair to kindergarten art projects.
It's the most ghetto card ever!

So happy to hear your doing better :-)

The biggest trend I've picked up on is that the people who take pre-surgery weight loss and working out seriously before the required pre-op diet (3-4 months before surgery) have an easier recovery.
If you can't walk a mile without huffing and puffing before surgery, you're definitely gonna feel worse after surgery, especially when you're trying to get into some kind of shape while also recovering from surgery. Separating those phases is important; having some base level fitness before any surgery is important for efficient healing and avoiding complications like blood clots and pneumonia.
The second thing I've noticed is that if you convince yourself you're gonna feel like **** after surgery, you will feel like **** after surgery. If you prepare your body and mind for surgery, you are more likely to be confident in a positive outcome and recovery, both short and long-term.
A note on bougie size: 32-36 French is the broad consensus. You can click here for more info: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/47390-international-sleeve-gastrectomy-expert-panel-consensus-statement-best-practice-guidelines-based-on-experience-of-12000-cases
Good luck.

Hmmm....I notice we're both Dr. Kim patients too! He uses the endoscope to size the sleeve, which is equivalent to a 34 bougie, which is very small....so it's weird that I can hold so much and that we're both so hungry....
I've heard that maybe I have a "long" stomach??

I am still losing as well but I am afraid I will stall my progress if I am not careful. Are you eating more frequent small meals to try and curb the hunger?

I was approved today! Yea!! Tentative surgery date of 10/9...waiting on the Ok from my boss. If not 10/9, it will be 10/23. I can't wait!

You had me till Miracle Whip. Ewwwwww
I wonder how turkey bacon would work.

So... I was working on cooking food for this week and decided to venture off into some new territories with the infamous "cupcakes" we all seem to love so much here on VST... Have to say, they were both fantastic! Give them a shot and let me know what you think!
They're prepared just like the Lasagna or Cheeseburger Cupcakes so I'm going to shorten the directions a little. (There's plenty of places to find those full recipes but my favorite is where I think they all started at... Emily Bites)
First... Sloppy Joe Cupcake (makes 12 servings)
- 1/2 lb Lean Ground Turkey
- 1 cup Canned Sloppy Joe Mix (I like original Manwich the best)
- 12 Wonton Wrappers
- 6 tbls Freshly Grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 oz Shredded Skim Mozzarella
- 12 Dill Pickle Slices
Brown the turkey and mix with a little salt and pepper and add the Sloppy Joe mix.
Place one wonton wrapper in each cup of a cupcake pan.
Place a tablespoon or so of the turkey/sloppy joe mix in each wonton wrapper. (Evenly split the mix so you can make two layers in each cup.)
Place a small amount of grated parmesan cheese, a dill pickle slice and then the mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the turkey mix and cheeses (without a pickle the second time).
Bake at 360 for 15 mins and watch to make sure they don't brown too much or too quickly.
132 calories, 5 grams fat, 12 grams Protein and 8 grams of carbs. (Carbs can be a little lower if you hold back a little on the sloppy joe mix which I think you could probably do.)
Second one may seem a little weirder... My favorite pizza is shrimp and artichoke heart and I've been craving one pretty bad so...
Shrimp and Artichoke pizza Cupcake (12 servings)
- 8 oz Cooked Baby Shrimp
- 1 cup Light Marinara (I use Ragu Light)
- 1/2 cup Chopped Artichoke Hearts
- 12 Wonton Wrappers
- 1/2 cup Skim Ricotta
- 6 oz Shredded Skim Mozzarella
- 6 tbls Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Mix the shrimp, marinara and artichokes together (no need to heat up).
Place one wonton wrapper in each cup of a cupcake pan.
Place a tablespoon or so of the shrimp mixture in each wonton wrapper. (Evenly split the mix so you can make two layers in each cup.)
Place a small amount of the ricotta, then the grated parmesan cheese, and finally the mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the shrimp mixture and cheeses.
Bake at 360 for 15 mins and watch to make sure they don't brown too much or too quickly.
108 calories, 4 grams fat, 11 grams Protein and 7 grams of carbs.
Hope you enjoy!

Once I advanced my diet to normal foods at 6 weeks I could eat anything as well- that's how I got my name! It's so nice to be able to eat a small portion, but also get nourishment and nutrition and not feel sick. We are very lucky! 1 taco (taco bell sized) is a perfect meal for me still 13 months out.

I just thank GOD I have a sleeve that allows me to eat. I know some people have problems but I've always had a pretty tough tummy I was worried I'd be a delicate eater but NOPE....I just can't wait to LOSE weight now!!!

I am three weeks out. I push the doctor a little and started trying soft foods a little early. I could handle them so they said it was okay. I am a little ahead schedule but I just make sure I chew everything REALLY well. I figured what's the difference if I chew it up to mushy or if I blend it up to mushy...it's still mushy And I don't stuff myself. Just eat until I feel that FULL feeling.

I don't know if it is just me but I can eat anything...so far. I am eating like a normal person and I feel so good. I went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant yesterday and had a shredded chicken taco with cheese and sour cream. I didn't eat the tortilla but OMG it was soooo good. And I feel normal. I just eat a little bit and I'm good. I had egg foo young and that was delicious. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!!!!!
The first three weeks were HELL....but I think I'm getting it. Of course I'm at a stall but at least I can eat LOL!!!!
I think I understand. Example: They ordered tacos (yes I eat lots of tacos) at work. Normally I would order two and be hungry. Now I order one egg taco and I know that will be enough to fill me up. I always ordered lots of food because I wanted to be full, then would keep eating after I was full and overeat. Now my sleeve helps me so I only order one taco and eat the inside and I am stuffed and happy and content.
This sleeve is going to help me so much stick to my diet. I just wish the scale would start moving LOL....
I hope the restriction lasts forever
Also I hope this made sense....LOL

As I sit out in my garden on a beautiful sunny morning (in UK) I am thinking about my 6 weeks post-op check yesterday!
From reading so many posts on this forum I had a list of questions and expected to come home with a whole load of 'dos' and 'don'ts' - but there was none of that. So I wanted to share the following.....
I think I've already said in previous posts that I have been lucky with an easy recovery-pain for no more than a week, moved through liquids, puréed food, sifts and now onto solids all pretty easily! I feel too full occasionally but am learning my limits still and have lost just over 35lbs!
But I think about all the people on this forum-the obsession with amount of Proteins vs amounts of
Liquids! How to eat, what not to eat etc.... The questions and concerns it seems are endless BUT I discussed all this with my surgeon who is a leader in the field in this country and I have come to the conclusion IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!!
I am doing this the easy way-he told me- I am a normal person, the same as before but I have a smaller stomach! And I wanted to remind some of you out there of this! It's upto me what I put in my mouth! I have a balanced diet which includes bread, rice, fruit etc. if I get constipated I can take a bit of laxatives but should remember to drink a bit more! It doesn't have to be just water-I like tea and coffee and fruit juice! I even managed to have some diet coke yesterday and it was really refreshing!
I had this op to escape the crazy world of dieting- and that's exactly what I am doing! I'm finally living life without the worry and it's great! Yes I am mostly sensible-but have had a couple of glasses of wine and a bit of cake and the difference is I can now stop myself going overboard!
My concerned friends are now smiling and feeling relieved when they see me eat a balanced meal or share in a nibble of something naughty!
So I just want to show you-there is an easy way here! So stop worrying and start living! You can do it! I have!
:-)
P.S - just want to point out that I said at the start-I know I am lucky! I know it will not be this easy for all-but this may help relieve some people's fears and concerns!
Xxx

Crab meat with a little cheese and spinach spice to taste
Lobster, salmon and shrimp same recipe
I love it
Cheers
Parris

Are you two weeks from surgery? I am too.
And I (luckily?? Unluckily??) have had no problems with liquids, purees or even some soft foods that I have "snuck". I AM ALWAYS HUNGRY.
I try to fight it with Water.
I know people say it's acid. I take 2x/day Pepcid.
But damn, I eat 3-4 oz of something, I'm full.
30 min later I want to eat again.
I am trying not to graze but it's hard.
I can't relate to people who can only take sips or people who throw up if they _________. My sleeve seems to be made of steel.

I'll tell you this- if my sleeve can handle it I will 100% have movie popcorn again in my life! All things in moderation and I will certainly not be eating the entire bucket myself... But I will enjoy it. I chose sleeve so that I could have all things in moderation!

You can absolutely have them! They were my saving grace during the post surgery liquid diet stage. Made it feel like I was cheating when I wasn't.

To answer your question about whether you have an oversized sleeve, I doubt it. When I was still eating purees and very soft foods like cheese wedges it seemed like I could eat quite a bit before the restriction was felt. However, when you get on solid foods you will notice it very quickly. Also in the first few weeks your stomach is kind of numb both because of the trauma and swelling and also because a lot of the nerves were cut during the surgery. When my tummy was still numb I could eat more without discomfort than I can now at nine weeks out because I feel everything now. Don't worry, I think you will find everything working as it should be.

I always like to answer those questions with a question or some vague 'answer'.
"What a weird question."
"What difference does that make?"
"Our family is nuttier than a fruitcake!"
"It's hard work losing 50lbs!"
"What do you think of the pics I posted?"
"I must look GOOD if I'm the subject of gossip. Whoo hoo!"
At the end of the day, it none of anyone's business and you don't have to tell ANYONE.

For all you carb watchers try this cauliflower to replace rice.
Use however many florets you need. I used about 3 and chopped them up to a rice-like texture
In a skillet add a tbsp of EVOO
Add the cauliflower, stir, until it's soft or add a lid
Season to taste. Since I had rotisserie chicken I put the chicken in the skillet with the cauliflower.
It tastes better than rice. I was able to eat about 2 tbsps after my chicken

I can't drink anything aside from Water either. Everything tastes too sweet.

Hi Everyone,
I had my Two week checkup today. It was great! I've lost 12 pounds post-op. It was only 2 pounds of muscle that I lost, the rest was all fat. I love getting weighed at the office because they have a machine that breaks it all down. I've been cleared for exercise, so hopefully next month I won't have lost any muscle.
Dr. duperier, the wonderful doc that he is, spent time with me, as always, to answer some questions:
Stretching Your Sleeve: it is possible to stretch your sleeve, but you have to work hard to do that. One or two meals that are too big won't stretch it out. Constantly overpacking it for months will stretch it.
Gaining Weight or 'Cheating': The Sleeve will fail if you drink sugary liquids. He has seen it happen and it saddens him. That is why counseling is such an important part of this equation.
Losing Weight & low carbs: I thought once I was sleeved that I will always have to eat low carb. Not true. Once I'm at goal weight, I can eat freely, within reason, and Protein always first.
No food For 3 Weeks: The reason is because the stomach needs to heal and not strain itself by processing food. So I was wrong. I thought if any food was pureed, I could eat/drink it. Not so. It has to be full liquids with nothing the stomach sees as 'food.'. So my pureed oatmeal, pureed Soups (other than creamy & broth) are no-no's. There is no such stage as 'pureed stage!'.
It was a very interesting visit. They did my leak test in the office and he spent time letting me drink & watching my sleeve fill up. I even got to see what happens when I overfill my sleeve. I am a renegade! I asked him if I could and he said 'sure.'. It was really cool. No wonder it is uncomfortable.
I hope other August sleevers (and everyone else!) are getting good news from
their docs!
Judy

I confess...
*My eyes are still bigger than my stomach so many times I end up with a plate full of food I can't eat.
*Stalls scare the crap out of me. I feel like a failure and my thinking gets skewed and I binge...well as much as my sleeve will let me.
*Im mad they came out with all the "good" food after I got sleeved. pizza on garlic bread? !?! That's freakin genius! Lol
*I fall in and out of love with exercise.
*I downplay my weight loss to my friends who are overweight or who I know are jealous.
*I hate when people ask me about health/nutrition and I know theyre not serious. Why waste my time? And don't "act" serious about weight because the fat girl is getting ready to pass you up.
This feels good. May be back lol.