VSG-LLL

I wanted to take a moment to share my experience with stalls, because I see a lot of people getting discouraged because of them and that's simply not necessary and really bad for your self esteem.
I was sleeved 1/20 - over the first 4 weeks I lost 40-freaking-pounds! Amazing! I was so excited and thought to myself "At this rate I'll be at goal by Easter!" And then, about half way through my 4th week something sad happened. My scale broke! I mean, it must have been broken because it kept saying 237 every-single-time I stepped on it, so SURELY it must have been broken, right? Wrong. I was stalled. I'd read the posts, I'd done my research, I knew it was possible but like most I thought "HA! Not me!"
For the next 2 1/2 weeks I analyzed every bite I put in my mouth, I doubled up my sessions with my trainer, I increased my Protein and fluids, to no avail! A week after my stall started, the scale still would not budge! Seriously, it's digital, how could it be broken? Maybe I somehow saved my last weigh in and it was just showing me that # every time I stepped on. Maybe? No. Maybe this was it. Maybe 40lbs was all I was meant to lose? No. Maybe I'm just built differently and the sleeve isn't going to work for me? No! It was a stall! A point at which the weight temporarily stops coming off and the scale stops moving. A time for my body to try and play catch up after the havoc wreaked on it for the previous 4 weeks.
Two 1/2 weeks after my stupid stall started, I noticed something - I was getting a LOT of compliments! I mean, sure people had been commenting before my stall but now, now people I NEVER talked to were commenting how good I was looking and what a great job I was doing. Surely they must be mistaken, I haven't lost ANY weight in the last 2 1/2 weeks. They're crazy. To prove it, I took a picture.
As I sat at my computer making my little collage so I could show them just how crazy they were, a gasp escaped my mouth when I added the last picture. Could it be? Surely it wasn't possible! I am the EXACT same weight that I was in picture #2, a fact that I was painfully aware of, but something was different. I actually LOOK thinner! Amazing! And to think I spent the previous 2 1/2 weeks silently stressing because the scale wasn't budging! The whole time while my weight wasn't shrinking, my waist was!
So to all of you out there stressing over stalls my message is this - Just because your weight isn't shrinking, doesn't mean your waist isn't. Just keep doing what you're doing and you will be successful - don't sabotage your success just because your scale is temporarily broken

I love this app for my iPone. I'm sure you can get it for other HH devices. It's really handy as I'm 1 week post-op and tracking everything that goes in my body. I'm currently in the post-op liquid phase. The app is called "MyFitnessPal". Search for it in your app store. A couple things I really love about this app.
1. There is an option to scan the UPC code on the side of ALL items you eat and it will login the food & all nutrition facts. So, when I have a cup of Greek Yogurt, I simply scan the bar-code & it logs everything in. Really cool.
2. It summarizes your input for the day so you'll know your calories & Protein for the day.
Makes the tracking thing really easy. The app is also for iPad & you can login through your browser to use on all platforms.
Maybe I'm repeating something someone else already mention....but I couldn't find this...so here ya go.
Hope it helps.
I was sleeved last friday and I'm down 28 lbs from the start of my pre-op liquid diet. Excited to be on the journey.
LL

Today was the day i had my VSG surgery. My doc is Dr. Umbach at Blossom Bariatric in Henderson, UT (Vegas). He did a great job. His team and their process was very professional. My wife has been an RN for 21 years and she was very complementary of our experience.
Twelve hours post-op I feel pretty good. Breathing & Walking. Taking some med's & slowly drinking some Water.
So far, very happy with my decision to take this step & choose Dr. Umbach in Las Vegas.
First day of the rest of my life.

We are all entitled to our opinions. But I have never doubted the change this sleeve has made in my life. I used to not eat normal. Now with my sleeve I eat normal. I eat to survive not to enjoy. My sleeve has turned me into a health conscious eater. I do not drink any juices, watch the carbs in those, also be careful with orange juice, quite acidic.
My typical day of food goes. (at 5 months out)
8 oz - skim milk (100 cal, 10 protein) 1 scoop chocolate injury (100 cal, 20 protein)
1/2 cup fat free plain greek yogourt (60 cal, 10 protein) with a few blueberries and smushed blacked berries for flavour (40 cal)
3-4 oz of Water with 1 scoop injury strawberry (100 cal, 20 protein)
raw vegetables with 2 tbs hummus (appx 100 cal, 4-6 protein)
3-4 oz of Water with 1 scoop injury strawberry (100 cal, 20 protein)
that is 700 calories and around 85 grams of Protein.
Although I do not typically eat much meat, as it does aggravate my stomach but still have no problem staying within calories and getting my Protein. If you use your sleeve right there is nothing wrong with it in my opinion.

Today was the day i had my VSG surgery. My doc is Dr. Umbach at Blossom Bariatric in Henderson, UT (Vegas). He did a great job. His team and their process was very professional. My wife has been an RN for 21 years and she was very complementary of our experience.
Twelve hours post-op I feel pretty good. Breathing & Walking. Taking some med's & slowly drinking some Water.
So far, very happy with my decision to take this step & choose Dr. Umbach in Las Vegas.
First day of the rest of my life.

Hi-
I bought my wife a tagine for Christmas,(cost plus world market) While off on vacation/juryduty, I decided to play with it.
My wife doesn't like curries so much so the challenge is to make meals either South western or traditional American flavored.
first time I used one, two lean center cut boneless pork chops, diced, with 1/2 onion, 1 clove elephant garlic, 1 roasted red pepper, a can of black Beans and a can of diced tomatoes.
no salt- to grinds on the pepper mill, a pinch of fresh dried oregano and a shake of ground cumin.
all in- 2 hours @ 350* in oven and done- tender and flavorful.
next up chicken stew-
a carrot, 1/2 onion, 3 cloves of garlic smashed, 3 red potatoes, diced, two breasts of chicken cut up, a bay leaf, 3 grinds on the pepper mill,a shake of celery seed, and a can of chicken stock.
all in- 2 hours- and again fantastic food!
I have been slowly getting back to real foods- 6 months out and some basic foods still bothered me-
I find this is a great way to make a tasty dinner, easy prep, and everything is tender...
the Tagine is 12 inches round, and makes enough for- four servings- so dinner for two and a lunch for two next day- .

I'm scheduled for March 2nd. Started the liquid diet and going well. I'm ready.

I am only a week out and just had 1/2 cup of cream of chicken Soup thinned with chicken broth (no msg). I feel like dancing! The plain broth was killing me!

Full liquids are sooo yummy! The flavor of real food.
My faves, so far, are:
half a can Fat free broccoli/cheese Soup, made with Water, blended with a slice or 2 of fat free cheese (to raise the protein)
half a can of fat free cream of celery, made with Water, blended with a half a can of chunk white tuna.< /p>
These take me an hour to eat, stuff kinda trickles slowly into my tummy, and leave me quite full and satisfied.
I'll add more as I experiment. Some things I want to try are, baby food meat in cream Soup, fat free cottage cheese in Tomato Soup, I have a recipe for an eggnog smoothie that sounds good too. I May have that one for dinner.

Just pay the regular rate? Problem solved?
Good luck.