joatsaint

My 1st Vlog entry "How To Explain Weight Loss Surgery Scars" or "Girl! You Ain't Gonna Believe This!" Many people have asked this question, it must come up a least once a week. In this video, I have some creative ways to explain away your weight loss surgery scars. Like the famous man said, "If you can't dazzle'em with brilliance, baffle'em with B.S!" I think my favorite weight loss surgery scar explanation is, "knifed by an exotic dancer, they're nasty that way!" If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-) Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve! Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311 Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311 Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve My Favorite Youtubers: VSGKirk - https://www.youtube.com/user/vsgkirk/videos 7Bites cooking show - https://www.youtube.com/user/SevenBitesShow/videos

Frequently Asked Questions - Weight Loss Surgery - What is the honeymoon period? For about 6 to 10 months post-weight loss surgery is the time when it is the easiest to lose weight. Outside of the dreaded stalls, weight generally tends to fall off magically. But eventually the body becomes adjusted to the lower caloric intake and adjusts it's metabolism down. So it's vitally important to take advantage of this "honeymoon period" to stick to your doctor's dietary guidelines and lose as much weight as possible. After the "honeymoon period" it is still possible to lose weight, but it will require more vigilance on caloric intake and diet, being careful not to fall into old habits, and increasing exercise levels to maintain your metabolism. If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-) Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve! Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311 Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve

13 months ago I had high blood pressure (then 150/102, now 122/92), don't know what my triglycerides were and had sleep apnea (I stopped using my CPAP at 9 months post-op, after losing 105lbs) So I think it turned out well for me. I chose the sleeve because I didn't want to deal with being required to take Vitamins for the rest of my life, plus having my guts rerouted really creeped me out. :-) Fortunatley, the doc I chose only advocates the sleeve. If he had been pushing for RNY or some other surgery, I'd have found another doc. But that's just me, I had done my research and I knew what I wanted.

For the 1st 9 months post-op, I panicked every time I hit a stall. Now I know that if I stick with my exercise and diet that worked before, it will work again. It just takes time for my body to adjust. You will continue to lose weight, just stick to what you know works.

Congrats on your NSV!!!!!!

For the 9 months, my stomach made noises like rocks in a garbage disposal every time I drank or ate. Now it only grumbles a bit on occasion. When I accidentally overeat, I still get the gurgling sensation as air bubbles move around the food in my stomach, but the bubbles were never painful.

Are you my long lost twin? I was sleeved on Dec 27th, 2012. I never have that "full feeling" either, just a sense of pressure and a poking sensation at the bottom of my throat when I eat till I'm full. I wasn't able to really tolerate solid foods for about 6 to 8 weeks. I stayed with a diet of Protein shakes and cream of mushroom Soup and a few bites of solid food a day for about 3 months - then I was able to move to solid foods with less stomach upset. But it was months later that my stomach would tolerate fibrous foods like: beef, chicken breast, pineapple, grape skins, apple skins, whole wheat bread, lettuce, tomatoes... ect. Just keep with your program. I have had many stalls over the past year. The one thing I learned is, if it was was working before the stall and I just stay with it, the weight will start falling again. Congrats on your success.

Congratulations on your success!!!!!!!!

Put a colored pillow case on your pillow - makes it easier to spot and remember when you're heading home. Remember - don't drink anything post-op till you're cleared (I was allowed only ice chips till my leak test) and when they come to get you to walk, get up and walk - it really helps with the gas pains.

Don't feel alone. It was about 3 weeks post-op before I felt "back to normal" again. There have been lots of threads on here reporting how well and energetic people felt right after surgery, but I wasn't one of them. After all, this is major surgery - no matter how "everyday" the media makes it seem. Your body has sustained a major trauma and needs time to recover. Keep getting your fluids, Protein and Vitamins. Things will get better day-by-day. 7 days post-op, I felt 100% better than I did the 1st 3 days. To get my protein in, I added extra Protein powder to my shakes. I my favorite is Premier Protein chocolate and I had some powdered chocolate protein Meal Replacement. I would add 1 scoop of the powder to my shake. It really made a difference in texture and taste - more like silky chocolate milk. And it added 7 grams of protein. :-)

My doc's written instructions say anything that is semi clear - like chicken or beef broth (nothing with chunks or even little seasoning particles) - is considered a clear liquid. Basically if you can run it through a strainer, it's okay. For the 1st week I was allowed clear liquids and all the protein shakes I wanted.

I only had to do a 1 week liquid diet. I lost 10lbs.

Congrats. I still remember the day I realized I could reach my toes without having to sit on the bed and turn my leg sideways. :-)

You are completely normal. I continue to go through the same thing. 30lbs in 2 months is great. I had a hard time losing more than 12lbs a month after the 1st 2 months post-op. My doc wanted me to stay on track to lose an average of 10 -12lbs a month. So even though I felt like a slow loser, he was happy. It will be very difficult for you to stretch your new stomach. It can be done, but from the research I've read, you really have to work at it to permanently stretch your stomach. At 13 months post-op, I still get mental cravings for food - nothing in particular, I just want to eat. I especially get them if I've eaten Pasta, fruit or sugary stuff. So I try to stick with things that don't trigger my head hunger and keep me filled. Stuff like pork loin, chicken breast and Beans.

Frequently Asked Questions - How long were you off work after weight loss surgery? The length of time off work post-surgery is going to vary on your ability to recover and any effects of medications you are taking. When I began researching weight loss surgery types, I read many accounts and watched lots of videos over how quickly people recovered from weight loss surgery. Some had extraordinary recoveries and were back at work within 3 or 4 days, others were not able to return to work for 4 weeks. I was back at work on day 10 post-op. I have a desk job that does not require heavy lifting, squatting or bending. I would recommend wearing the abdominal binder if the hospital gives you one. I wore mine everyday for 4 weeks post op. If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-) Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve! Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311 Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve

I was 50+ lbs overweight during my senior year. If I hand known that I'd spend the next 28 years being fat and miserable, I'd have done almost anything to get the surgery. But keeping the weight off may be a challenge if you don't address the reasons for being overweight. It might be psychological/emotional issues or like me, my parents systematically over-fed me every day, and I became addicted to food. Having a good post-op support system in place really makes a difference.

Here's my recipe, I ate this concoction for weeks and weeks without getting tired of it. http://www.bariatricpal.com/blog/9018/entry-31168-my-favorite-mexican-food/

Yeah, the pre-op diet was the toughest part for me as well. I'd rather go through all the post-op gas pain again, rather than be pre-op and have to go through the pre-op diet again. :-P

I was allowed back on full foods after 4 weeks post-op. My doc didn't put any limitations on what I could eat.

Frequently Asked Questions - Why did you choose vertical sleeve gastrectomy over the Lap Band or Gastric Bypass (RNY or Duodenal Switch)? I looked at three weight loss surgery options before choosing the sleeve. I chose the gastric sleeve because it seemed to be the one with the fewest complications. I wasn't thrilled with the gastric lapband because I have a friend who had the lapband, but had complications including scarring on the outside of the stomach where the band rubbed. And he learned how to eat around his band. After losing over 150lbs, he resumed his old eating habits and gained it all back, plus some. I was creeped out with RNY. I couldn't handle the thought of being required to take supplements for the rest of my life, plus the whole rerouting of my intestines didn't sound good. If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-) Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve! Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311 Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve

I woke up in the recovery room asking, "Am I thin yet?" I don't think I started losing weight until the 2nd week post-op - and then only slowly. I still had lots of fluid in me from surgery. And I was very swollen. You will lose the weight, just hang in there and stick with your program.

Here's a quick review of one of my favorite candies. Russell Stovers Sugar Free Pecan Delights. I like these as an occasional treat, but not for everyday snacking. They do contain sugar alcohols and may cause gastric distress. When I first tried them, I was on the Atkins Diet. I learned the hard way, you shouldn't eat 6 of them at once. I was making a bee-line for the bathroom about 30 minutes later. :-P I don't recommend them to anyone that is still eating less than 1000 calories a day. If your caloric intake is that low, you need to pack as much nutrition into every bite as possible. And candy is not nutrition. If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-) Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve! Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311 Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve

I can only answer #1 as I never bought any books - this forum was all I needed to answer my questions. I had tried on and off a few months prior to month 10, but my sleep quality was still too poor to go without the machine. But I completely stopped using my CPAP at 10 months post-op. I had lost around 130lbs from my highest weight. A few months previous to completely stopping usage, I started noticing that I was having lots and lots of air pumped into my stomach from the CPAP machine. I was passing so much gas during my sleep that it would wake me up and my sleep was interrupted a lot. So I started testing how well I slept without the CPAP. And after a few days I noticed that my sleep was just as good without the machine.