Luanne

I think the VSG surgery is the best not only for the $ but long-term help in NOT gaining that weight back. Our sleeve is a tool for a lifetime of help, all we have to do is continue to use it!

I have DID it "the right way" several times in my life and just k-n-e-w I'd never gain it back this last time = ONCE AGAIN--in 2008, I started a doctor-supervised program leading towards WLS, lost 90lbs, did great and then 20 snuck back on, and Sept/Oct/Nov of 2010 I put another 45lbs on from emotional eating (a young friend committed suicide). I was out of control and went to Mexico on December 9, 2010 to have the sleeve done. My only mistake was not to have WLS after the 90 as I still had 20 more to go. It isn't the easy way out but damn better than suffering in shame over gaining it back time 'n time again!

Thanks everybody for your opinions! I did the HCG diet for 8 days -before VSG- and I had carb cravings from hell. One Melba toast turned into the whole box on several occasions. I feel that now (after VSG) it will work wonders for me as I won't get as hungry. I'm willing to try it down the road if I seem to be at a stall. Thanks again!

I did it last summer before the sleeve and lost 35lbs the first month. Then of course gained it back. Not saying it doesn't work for some but I don't intend to do drastic diets again. That is why I had the sleeve done. If you choose to do it I would recommend you get the drops(synthetic form) versus the real HCG which is injections. I was so moody on the injections I couldn't continue. Plus if I got hungry during the day there was nothing I could do. With the drops I could take more drops and the hunger went away.

I've enjoyed the Zero Carb Isopure vanilla whey for several years in my blended fruit shakes. I get it for over $20 less at vitacost.com than buying it at GNC or a health store. I order alot of my Vitamins there also: B liquid, fish oil, liquid - Natural Vitality Organic Life Vitamins (veggies,fruits,aloe vera, essential vitamins & minerals, amino acids,MSM, chrom.picolinate, selenium, antioxidants),and even a Home Health unscented Almond Glow skin lotion that I love after a shower.

I'm wondering what the VSG world thinks of the HCG diet? The principle of it is a 500 calorie specific diet that feeds off your fat so one is not hungry. About a year after one friend's sleeve surgery, she did the HCG to "reset" her weight and dropped 20lbs. In the future, I am considering doing it myself as my metabolism is so screwed up. I've also had several friends that lost 40+lbs and have kept it off. SO WHAT DO YA ALL THINK????

I'm not sure how the VSG people feel about the HCG diet? I'd research it and see if it is something you would want to try but you must follow it specifically. Several friends have had amazing weightloss on it., all over 40+ lbs. One of them had the sleeve for about a year and did the HCG to lose the 20+ and "reset" her weight. I did it about a year before my sleeve & lasted only 8 days but I am considering it down the road as my metabolism is so screwed up.

You're doing great! From what I've read & went thru, we all have stalls but get NSV's (NonScaleVictories) in other ways so my suggestion is to give yourself some time before the HCG. My friend had the sleeve for about a year before the HCG and she did it to help "reset" her weight. and to lose the extra 20 she wanted to. I'm 4 months, 46 pounds and grateful for this weighloss but my metabolism is so shot from the gain/lose that I am really considering the HCG to jumpstart it also.

I'm 33 days post-op with a 30lbs loss. I just have this fear that I wont lose as much as I will like to. I also purchased some HCG before my surgery and did not use it. I was just thinking about incorporating it into my sleeve at this time. Am I to nervous or should i just chill out a bit and give myself some time before I do HCG? Just your thoughts!

Put "5 day pouch test" in search all forums & you can find a link there that explains it.

What is the 5 day pouch test? Sounds like everyone is doing great. I think I just need to rejump my system somehow!

The minute I woke up out of recovery I said, "I need up to pee and walk." The doctors kept telling me that I looked like a girl that didn't have surgery.

70 pounds is 70 less than where you started! I lost 40 in 3 months but then had a 3+week stall...verrrry frustrating! I did Protein whey shakes for 3-4 days & lost 6 to get me under 200 = 199! Hopefully this will keep me going on the losing track. They say to do a 5 day pouch test that will also help a person get back to using the sleeve right.

I even had a friend use the HCG diet to get her to her proper weight as she was losing too slowly (she thought) after her sleeve. Search HCG info. I did the HCG diet before I got my sleeve but a person has to follow it to the letter exactly. The principle of it is that it eats the fat not the muscle I only lasted about 8 days on it but I think I could definitely do it now as you're only allowed 500 calories and now that I'm really not that hungry, it would work better for me. I'll see.

Woo-Hoo! = FINALLY HIT 199 today! After a frustrating 3 week stall with not even a pound lost ~ I decided to do Protein whey shakes for 4 days & that seemed to help me lose the 6 pounds to get me under 200. Hopefully this will be my jumpstart to continuing weight loss!

WOOPS I meant DECEMBER 2010 Sleever! In three months, I lost 45 lbs and then a standstill for almost a month ~ VERY frustrating! The last 3 days (also today) I have did mainly Protein Shakes & lots of liquids. FINALLY started the scale moving and will be in onderland soon! What kind of exercise regime do you do?

You could try mixing your Protein whey in yogurt or pudding.< /p>

No side effects and I feel the best I've felt in sometime. Research & talk to your doctor about Pristique. Good luck.

Thanks Luanne. Before the bipolar diagnosis, I was using a beer or two a night just to shut off my brain. When I was first on the Abilify and then the Stavzor/Seroquel combination, I was in such a mental fog that I almost said enough of this and went back to drinking! I couldn't believe that it took 3 months to get out of the hazy bubble. I think my doc thought I was "crazy". Have you had any side effects with the Pristique? Energy is one of the things I struggled with before the surgery. Right now the energy level seems better but I'm always worried about the lack of energy coming back.

There is a difference in broth! ~ Try the Butterball brand!

Over the years, same thing: You name it, I was on it but I also medicated with booze & drugs for years. I went to treatment in 2001 and they put me on Seroquel + Librium for a year. A light Trazadone that I took at night was my ticket for relief until last year & several deaths pushed me to something more. I've been on Pristique for 6 months which helps the seratonin & neonephrine levels plus seems to give me energy. I also try to do the natural stuff: I take a Gabba & liquid melatonin at night plus hydroxine (dr prescribed) and I sleep like a baby. Any/all could be swapped for the Lorezam = ask your doc.

Dr. Aceves in Mexicalli, $8500. He did several friends LBs so google & research him; also from what I've read, he has done many on this VST, put him in this search engine also. The experience was great and I was not even nervous a minute.

Luanne:

May I ask how much the adventure in Mexico cost, where you went and the Doctor who did your surgery?

Susan, I did a doctor-supervised program (part of the criteria to have VSG) for over a year, lost 90 pounds and kept thinking I was really glad that I didn't have to go to the length of having any WLS. WRONG: 20 crept back on and after a stresser, put another 45 back on in 3 months. I was out-of-control! ~ That's when I went to Mexico to have it done. I'm a "guzzler 'n a shoveler" on top of being an emotional eater. My sleeve is just a tool to help me get & stay healthy and in control. Good luck on your journey!

Hi, my name is Susan. I am so glad to have found this website. I had already decided on the sleeve but was having second (third, fourth, etc) thoughts well into the insurance approval process. The support you provide is awesome. I know I have my the right decision now. My doctor's office and support group is a good hour away so I will definitely be looking to you all for support.

My journey so far....I attended my first seminar on 01/19/2011. I had pulled an 18 hour day at work the day before and almost didn't go, but so glad I did. I was committed and decided to start "dieting and working out" as well. I had my first appointment with the dr. on 02/09 and the nutrionist the following day. Well, four weeks later after many tests, pysc eval, etc., hoops for insurance company, we will finally ready to file. Took about 2 1/2 weeks and finally recieved a call on 03/21. My surgery date is 04/25/2011. It seems like forever away.

My surgeon is Dr. Cywes in Jacksonville, FL. I haven't seen many posts from people in this area yet.

Well, back to the "diet" part. I have lost 32 lbs so far. I have been doing the low carb diet for 6 weeks now. Although, some of my family members are saying "see, you can do it without surgery". My husband is very supportive (he would have preferred the band) but my teenage son has said several times "I really wish you wouldn't do this", he thinks it's too much risk. I understand his feelings but told him that I have to do this for me. My mom has been the most surprising. She is very excited for me and asks me all the time how things are going. So funny, I really never expected her to be so supportive.

I am a little worried that since I have lost some already that my initial weight loss after surgery won't be as great as some of the success stories I have seen here. I still have 110 to go to my goal weight though. Hopefully, it will help that I won't be going through carb withdrawal during my post-op period.

With your attitude & conviction, it willbe sooner than later! I went thru all that crap too and decided the $ would be well-spent going to Mexico.

Really truly just starting out on the sleeve journey. Decades, however, doin' the "such a pretty face" fat chick mosey....

HW 275

CW 243

BMI 41

Going for a hat trick in co-morbidities -- hypertension, arthritis, sleep apnea

Got denied for LapBand in 2006, irked the crap outta me. (All that crap still didn't make me lose much though...) So, since 07 been working on melting a few ounces while I dealt with hip replacement and spinal reconstruction. Decided maybe that denial was a blessing in disguise.

I WILL be one slinky sleevette or there will be some serious butt kickin' and name takin' -- this IS going to happen!!!

So for now, I'm working on proving to the insurance fairies that I do believe, I do believe, I do believe, have clicked my heels together 50 times so now I'm worthy of living, um I mean fully cognizant of the risks of going after this or dying early if I don't.

The hardest part? Having someone who knows absolutely nothing about me, emotionally, physically or personally decide that I haven't worked hard enough, suffered enough or can't seem to put down my fork long enough to get my soggyjunk outta the trunk or quake my booty off before I can have something done to MY body, for MY benefit and of MY own volition (that I actually have paid for through years of higher premiums and will continue to pay for)! But then again, I may be just a bit "sensitive" about "managed healthcare".....

You are doing amazing! = An inspiration!

Okay, Luanne - here you go - Can cross my legs and love it! Can walk two or miles a day without having a heart attack! Can fit into size 8 clothes and love it! Can look myself in the mirror now (can't say I love it 'cause I STILL see the wrinkles! lol) without flinching! Can do anything I please without stopping to catch my breath every few seconds! Need I go on?? (smile)

Also, I am almost 10 months out and can eat a small amount of most anything. Still can't do a lot of very dense Protein like steak or chicken breast unless very, very tender and easily digested. I am trying now to go back to low carb as much as possible because I went through a month or so of beginning to eat "junk" in small amounts and don't want to re-train my thought processes back to bad eating habits. Reached goal of 150 in late February with weight loss of 101 total now. Will probably lose another 10 pounds or so if I can manage it.

Enough said? LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my sleeve.

We bought our IMAGE tm with all the bells & whistles from a newspaper ad for a $100. I have also had a GAZELLE for several years that I love...very easy on joints, knees & feet.

I have sf popsicles on hand...helps with my sweet tooth.

After I get out of the shower, I use a HomeHealth Almond Glow unscented skin lotion w/peanut, olice, lanolin & Vit E in it. Just my daily routine that helps my dry skin.

Healthy & Happy in a size 8 is wonderful!

Well, I am 57, at goal, lost 101 lbs, in 8 mos. And HAVE wrinkles! Face and neck. Really really noticeable to me. Others say not so much but there are groves and lines now due to WL. But, hey, I am a size 8 now. Can't have everything! Lol

GO TO: www.CornellWLS.com & print out "The Cornell Weight Loss Suargery Program: Dietary Guidelines for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy." It gives Sleeve Basics, Diet suggestions & progression + supplement suggestions. You can't go wrong with this! Lu

I'm just wondering what everyone else's progression of food break down to.....According to my literature and my dietician...(who is evil btw) they say 2 days of liquids then 4-5 weeks of puree then 4-5 of mechanical soft and then 4-5 of soft then regular food...she said 3-4 months before regular normal food...

Also does anyone have any recommendations on good Protein powder, i want to still be able to juice some veggies and thought i would add in the protein powder so i meet my 60 goal daily...

You made me smile ~ You're funny! So what are your stats ?

Hello all of you AB FAB 50 Somethings!

I'm just starting my VSG journey -- and, like everyone else -- it's been a long time coming. If it weren't so sad, it would probably make an awesome dance. I'm callin' it the VSG BOOGIE -- Two steps forward, one step back, slide to the side, move to the back, jump through the hoops, now twist to the left, then skate to the right. Now Everybody JUMP JUMP JUMP. (Okay, so it's a work in progress, but then again, so am I. For now, it's just an interpretive dance...)

I've decided that my mental theme song for the first part of my VSG Boogie is "I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it...." Then again, maybe I'm just mental enough to begin with

Bette Davis once said "Getting old ain't for sissies" and BOY was she right. So, I've decided that at 56, I'm not even close to old, but I am ALMOST perfectly aged (like fine wine or cheese). No Mad Dog 2020 or Limburger for me thank you very much.

There's one thing I'm really, really looking forward to....taking a step and not having to wait for my butt to catch up and stop shakin'.

Looking for mentors, accountability partners, and having fun, fun, fun till Big Daddy takes the TBird away.