Bob_350lbs

just don't do anything stupid after surgery, do what your surgeon said, drink, drink, drink..follow the diet correctly..my surgery went great, great doc, great hosp, and I was walking for exercise within days of coming home, and never felt better in my life. Also, you can see how hydrated you are by the color of your urine, the darker it is, the less hydrated you are..and when you are allow to eat again, chewing is vital, as it keeping portions to what your doctor tells you, for us it was no more than 1/4 of mushies at first, all protein. You should be fine, but complications are something that can happen to anybody, including infections from the hospitalization it self, they are dirty places full of sick people & serious germs everywhere, even at the best of the best..it can happen, so you just have to be aware of to look for and when to call.

They just want your American $$ - I guess you don't watch the news much, the USA issued a travel advisory after the drug lords started ambushing people in the streets, a Mexican-American couple from Texas, who work at the Embassy were shot dead about 6 mos ago and it made the US issue the travel warning. But, I understand how you feel, the prices can't be beat and Aceves is a great doctor, so the drug lords probably know better than to mess with his business. Your just going in and out with a Mexican escort driving you, so it's probably safer and Aceves' name is plaster on the side of the van, right? I live in CA, so we are more aware of the border problems and drug problems with Mexico, that's all. Up in WA, it's pretty mellow, people are more affluent, probably have very little if any Hispanic population. Here you have to speak Spanish to get a job, 80% of Santa Ana is Hispanic, there are truly sanctuary towns. At my job, if the border patrol is out and they are making routing traffic stops, the illegal mothers canx the children's appts so they won't get sent back to Mexico. If you can't speak fluent Spanish, my employer will not hire you anymore, because it costs too much to pay for interpreters. If you don't live in a border state, you probably are too far removed to understand the impact it has on the schools, healthcare, roads, and other public services..and because medical marijuana is legal now in CA, the Mexicans are having wars in Mexico over territory in their own country. I think they won't mess you with a patient of Dr. Aceves thought, he probably has paid them off to keep the americans coming down for surgery. I don't blame him, his gov't is more corrupt than ours is. Just venting, don't take this personal, it's not about you, it about how the illegals have ruined our states educational and healthcare system with their anchor babies, they way they undermined the working class people who are citizens who did it the right way, paying taxes, and so forth. God bless, it's a huge mess here, our state is bankrupt now, maybe Mexico is the answer for affordable healthcare, but only if you have money to pay for it - so in a way, jobs are being taken way from american doctors too, not just the working class, and there are drug wars going on big time in Mexico, a high ranking official was murdered, a governor, because he got in the way, police are corrupt, Mexicans don't even go outside for fear of being shot. It is the truth.

cover all your bases dee dee, go thru with trying to open the tubes, get a job in your state and start IVF, and also foster a child, an infant, to keep you company while you are going through this. don't make the mistakes I did, my tubes were blocked, couldn't unblock them, and didn't follow thru with foster child or ivf - money reasons..looking back I would have fostered a child and proceeded with IVF with/$ from foster care system. KEEP GOING..YOU WOULD BE A GREAT MOM!!!

yes, the bigger you are, it takes more weight loss to notice, probably when you get to a BMI of 30 they will start to notice.

mexico is having terrible problems with drug wars, murders daily in the street, i hope you are safe down there...maybe they drive an armored van..or the drug dealers leave Aceves business alone, buena suerta.

OMG - you have got to try the WonderSlim BBQ snacks, their cheesecake mix, the chocolate cake mix, the chocolate marshmallow pudding mix, and the cinnamon and chocolate crisp munchies, not to mention their bars. They are all low carb, high protein, low call and delivery is free if you buy over $79 worth of goodies. Happy hunting for your snacky foods - I know I love them & they keep me on track. Oh, I almost for forgot to mention their pancake mix and the pastas - I like them very much too.

You know what works the absolute best? Laser hair removal - smooth and clean as a baby's behind. But the down side is, you can never go back to that hairy natural look - and sometimes you just want to be hairy and nasty good like that, which is what makes being a woman so fun. I don't know what the guys do - so many of them are completely hairless, and my ex used to shave down there (he was going gray) .. but that's their problem, I guess. I always did prefer men to look like men - hairy and sexy that way.

sex is a great way to keep in shape and a great mood stablizer..it's so good for the body/soul/and mind. Now that we are all thinner and more attractive, it's such a great reward for our efforts..nothing compares to it, nothing.

Be strong my fellow VSG'ers...it's a battle, the greedy food industry vs us. Buy organic fruits, veggies, and Protein. Our government is run by corporations...a billion dollar industry, what would they without us? Let our $$ speak for us.. You will be successful and keep the weight off...just boycott Mcdonald's and the likes of them....

God bless you sweetie, you have done so well!! Thank you for always being so upbeat and encouraging! Congratulations on your success, you are one of my favorites on this site, blessings! You are beautiful on the inside and out, I hope you keep posting here, you're such a positive role model for us all.

oh, I forgot another one of my favorite snacks, I like corn tortillas baked whole until they are crisp, then I will spread FF cream cheese on it, and add salsa. 2 Tia Rosa white corn tortillas only have 12 gms of carbs and 110 calories and it really helps when I want to stress eat on something crunchy, and you can only eat one about 2 hrs apart, so it is great after work, instead of dinner. I usually eat most of my calories while at work, and save about 150 cals for after work. Besides, after grazing all day, I am not really hungry at night anyway. But, until you are out at least 3 mos, don't try this snack.

I go through phases of my favorite snacks...right now it is Starbuck's tall frappacino light blended vanilla bean, strawberry, or white chocolate mocha with whipped cream. I can barerly finish it and it's like a decadent treat, like an adult milk shake without all the fat and sugar.

I am beginning to think this is a "get out of jail free" card. Did any see Steve Phillips on the Today show? He is an old pervert just like Clinton. Preying on the young admiring staffers. Gag..if he takes Vigra that ought to be discontinued right now. That certainly could be making matters worse, thinking with the wrong head again!!!

Sounds like he was just looking for an excuse to leave, count your blessings, it's better this happens sooner than later. Anyway, you are starting a whole brand new life, and who needs that kind of baggage.

Good to hear Tiff, that is a relief. I remember my mom went the the ER with chest pain so bad, she thought she was having a heart attack, it ended up being a hiatal hernia, but it's better to be safe than sorry, or worse, dead.

That type of pain is familiar to me, it was caused by my hiatal hernia, but that was repaired and the doc said it is not likely it would come back. However, I know in my case, since the sleeve, that this pain is directly related to my eating too fast or too much. The food could literally be stuck in the esophagus, or it gastroesophageal reflux. Gallbladder is typically right side under the breast, because that is where your gallbladder is. But even, if you have never had sxs of gallbladder disease, it can happen anytime, especially after rapid weight loss. Also, I remember that back pain, between the shoulder blades can also be a sxs of a heart attack in women. Gosh, I hope your not a hypochrondriac, because I am not helping!

You are so right, vent away...what I don't understand is don't they see how much obesity is going to cost them in the long run? With 2/3 of the population obese, it is only going to get worse, eventually ending up with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma exacerbations, degenerative joint disease, tons of expensive medications, surgeries like coronary artery bypass, knee replacments, etc...HELLO!! And, the number of people applying for social security disability is only going to increase, creating a significant burden on society. As obesity increases, so do all the co-morbidities. Claimant's with a BMI of 40 places a significant burden and starts to compromise the weight bearing joints, such as the knees. Today's obese children will grow up sicker and sicker, eventally on a plethora of medications, reduced ability to function, and early disability, directly related to obesity. Next to smoking, there is nothing worse for your health..Okay...I know I vented a lot too...but this is a huge issue with me too.

Congrats Dee Dee and Nanna, you have done so well, I could only wish to have done as well as you, your a grand inspiration to all.

Weighing daily keep you focused, but it is easy to get discouraged if you feel you aren't losing fast enough. It's a mind game, just don't let it get you down. Take measurements too, cause if the pounds aren't coming off, then guarantee, the inches are. This is a powerful tool, in a way, it's amusing, how little food you can eat. But, at 6 mos out, I can eat more than I could at 1 mo, for obvious reasons, so it's important to track on dailyplate or fitday or something so that you know what your intake is. It blows my mind that I ate high refined carbs for a whole week, and lost 2 lbs, finally getting 50 lbs off..and my waist has shrunk 10 inches too..so don't worry, this will work for you. I am not recommending high refined carbs though..it's very important to get in your protein, without it, you might lose your hair, muscle, and your energy, but I am just saying, this will work for you, don't worry if you're not the fastest loser of the bunch, what counts is that you will reach your goal, and then maintenance comes in, and that is part 2. Life will get better in many ways, and you will be able to eat normally, normal foods eventually, and then you will have the skills to do it.

You guys are awesome! My excuse is that have been working 12 hr days, 6 am to 6 pm, and when I get home I am beat, I know that this is just an excuse, if you really want something, you find a way..and for those who think they have sagging skin, be grateful you did this before you turned 50, because that is when you really start losing collegen, and wrinkles, sagging skin, bat wings, really are a reality, even without weightloss, even my skinny, in shape friends, who excersie and have never been overweight in the their lives have turkey necks and bat wings, even if they are little tiny bat wings...maybe that is where the term 'old bat' orginates from, JK...men get turkey necks too, so equal aging opportunity...I guess if you can afford plastics you never grow old, like Joan Rivers, but all her ugliness in on the side, you ladies are beautiful inside and out..maybe because we have all be so discriminated against our whole lives due to obesity, that we understand the pain and suffering, and have much more compassion for those who don't fit the mold of perfection. Keep up the good work ladies, you ROCK are awesome inside and out!.

Wow, you guys have done so well, congrats! By summer, we will all be so much more healthier than last year. I also want to have lost enough weight to wear summer dresses and even shorts (well, capris, anyway).

Hi Jennifer, thanks for posting. I can relate to your post, as it's been mostly a mental thing for me too. My thoughts are this, what about joining a commercial diet program? Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig? It might be a good way to stay accountable each week and get group support or personal counseling and a cheerleader on your side. I am thinking I might have to do that too. We have the restriction, just need the emotional support and encouragment to keep going. The weight will come off, slowly. Maybe it might take me a year to get the rest off, it depends on how I do with my calories, and for me, it's about 1200 on average per day, with walking to and from work as my exercise. I wish you the best in your journey, never give up, it is persistence and sticking with it that will get you there, and you will get there. And, another thought..the VG can also be upgraded to the duodenal switch, so that you have the malabsorbtion to help you lose weight and get back on track. I know my surgeon does this after high BMI patients get down to a weight making it safer.

Dee Dee, I can't wait until I am petite enough to wear Soma, I have read they are the best..but they don't make ginormous there...But when I do, I plan on stocking up myself. Right now, I am buying mine at Lane Giant..they have my size and it's comfortable. Maybe by summer, my hope is to be at 150. Congrats on your success, you look marvelous!

Lan2K, I didn't realize you were struggling so much emotionally. and I really appreciate your honesty. For those of us with eating disorders, it more of a mental head game. I still wish I would have done it sooner, but I know in the end it;s all the same, diet & exercise. Whatever tool you can find to help you reduce your caloric intake, no matter how drastic, whatever it takes to ge you to your goal.

Have you tried the protein soups from Bariwise? I thought they were tolerable and there is no artificial sweetner in them.