Missmarbe

Why do you automatically assume this post will be flamed??? I agree w/ you... I'm just interested in why you added "let the flaming begin"....
I believe each of us has our own journey and we have to decide what's best for us (taking into consideration the opinions and information given by the professionals we trusted to cut on us)....

I’ve noticed a lot of emphasis on post-op diets. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not a dietician and I am not telling anyone what they should and should not be eating. Instead I am offering my take on sleeve dieting.

Would most agree that we did not become overweight simply because of the type of food we ate, but rather the amount of foods we ate? I was nearly 140lbs overweight when I had my surgery. My problem was quantity. When I ate out I would eat 3 or 4 of everything. Seriously, when I ate out I would eat 10 tacos at Taco Bell, or an entire large pizza from Pizza Hut, or two Whoppers at Burger King or two 12” Subway sandwiches. If my wife made steaks for dinner I would have 3 of them.

I rarely ate Breakfast during the work week, but on weekends I would stuff myself with pastries. I would also tend to eat and watch TV until bedtime.

These are the things that got me, and I would suspect most people, into trouble. My new sleeve has changed all that. I physically CAN NOT eat foods in the same quantity as before. Thank the LORD! My meals are much, much smaller. This has required me to learn that breakfast and lunch are just as important as dinner.

As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I have no foods that are off limits. I eat mostly the same kind of foods I enjoyed before surgery. I just have to be smarter about it. The Proteins are eaten first in my meals, followed by other nutritionally dense foods. The carb rich stuff like breads is eaten last if my sleeve isn’t already full.

This was my Easter holiday meals:

For breakfast I had a Protein Shake.< /span>

After church my wife wanted to stop at McDonalds on the way home. I didn’t want to overindulge so I opted for a kids “Happy Meal”. It was 4 chicken nuggets, a kid fry and sugar free lemonade. It was less than 300 calories and I still got 10 grams of Protein out of this treat.

For dinner I used a rotisserie on my grill and smoked a whole chicken for the holiday. I had a drumstick and a small portion of a breast, about a ¼ cup of mashed potatoes with some gravy, 3 tablespoons of steamed broccoli, and a freshly made wheat roll. The chicken was eaten first followed by the broccoli and potatoes. I only had a nibble off the roll because I was full. This was not my typical meal, but it was a holiday so I intended to enjoy myself while having dinner with my family.

For desert I had a Cadbury egg.

The point I’m trying to make is that moderation is the key. I had a few things yesterday that are not typical for me, but a reward for 30 days post-op and a holiday. This morning I am back to my regular routine. I had a single serving of oatmeal with honey for breakfast and a “Lean Cuisine” 290 calorie entrée for lunch. My wife is making tacos for dinner. I will likely have a taco and ¼ cup of Spanish rice with salsa.

Don’t beat yourselves up by thinking you’ve “ruined” your diet because you ate something that perhaps is contrary to dieting guidelines. You can simply make up for it with a later meal. We are all eating less because of our wonderful new sleeves and hopefully we’re a lot more active than we used to be. These two things alone will encourage weight loss. Don’t get hung up on what you eat. Pay far more attention to how much you’re eating. Try to make the smartest food choices when choosing your main entrée. I’m down nearly 40lbs in the 30 days since my surgery and I eat what I want.

Let the flaming begin.

Well Im three weeks in and things are getting alot better. I've been on soft foods crawfish, salmon, shrimp mostly with greens or spinach no carbs. I've lost 20lbs so far surgery date 3/14/2012 seemed to take for ever I was worried I wouldnt loose the typical 30lbs in the first month which is my goal. Im cool with others eating around me now. Dr says I can start working out next week so can't wait to start that and really get the ball to rolling. I have to admit I still haves pain in the site area but, Dr says that's normal. So far I feel this is one of the best decisions I've made in a long while and, Im excited for my journey ahead!! =0)

Thanks!

I guess I would rather mourn food that have my family prematurely mourn me.

Yes. I regret not having the surgery sooner! Seriously, I wish this surgery had been an option for me before I started having health problems. Now I'm working uphill to heal rather than knowing I'd avoided the major problems before they became an issue. Slowly but surely I am healing, but how wonderful if I could have done this before I got sick!

Lewanda,
I am one year out today and statrted out at 460 highest weight, 450 when I first went to the surgeon for the first time . 410 when I had surgery and today 234 I still have 54pd to go and know it will happen. I do have saggy skin but not as bad as I thought. i feel great. you will do wondrful just keep your eye on the prize. A New You.
Denise

Lewanda,
I went on my initial consult with a weight of 440. I went into surgery after my pre-op diet with a weight of 423 (give or take per my surgeon). I weighed 416 on my 1 week post op visit. I plan on getting down to 200 pounds. My best friend had VSG 1 year ago, and he went from 438 to 230 in a year! I hear that men losr faater and he has been very dedicated in working out and eating right. I know how you feel with the people who say " you don't look like you weight that much". I just say, " Everybody carries weight differently". And know I surely do, You will do well. Praying for your insurance approval, and safe surgery and speedy recovery!!!!!!
Marla

I totally just walked past a full length glass door and thought...wow...I really do look smaller...and I actually have the desire to do my hair in the mornings and put on makeup. I work for a small company so looking good hasn't always been a top priority for me...but suddenly as my body changes...I actually want to look good...LOVE MY SLEEVE! Best thing I ever did for myself!

The straws have to do with swallowing air (the straw is full of air that you're pulling into your mouth), and also with the larger volume you tend to swallow when you use a straw. My plan says straws are OK if they don't cause a problems. I've been choosing to use them. I just open my mouth before I swallow, no air problems.
Water was ok, then got a bit harder. I can only take tiny sips, and just a few. But I can chew ice chips all night long. Have you tried ice chips, or SF popsicles? I know cold things seem to bother people but I do fine with them and I'm not sure I'd be able to maintain hydration at this point if it weren't for ice chips.
Do what your plan says, but if it's me and I have to choose between hydration or carbs, I'm taking the hydration.

Okay, I know they tell you not to BUT nothing changes and not a problem for anybody I have seen/heard. Try using a straw! Helped me tremendously.

I'm six days post op and my full Liquid Protein diet has me take two ounces of protein-rich liquid or calorie-free liquid every 15 minutes, alternating. Every time I try to take anything in, it's always followed by solid five to ten minutes of burping and gurgling. I make an effort to sip carefully as best as I can, but it happens every time. Makes me not want to eat at all. I cheated a few days early and tried a small forkful of puréed chicken salad. Went down okay without pain, but the gas was still a problem.
Am I doing something wrong? Is this temporary? Will I be chained to my box of GasX forever?

I hope I can encourage others the way y'all have encouraged me. Glad I found this place!

Soooo sorry to hear you are struggling much!! Sounds like food was a big source of comfort to you and you probably nurtured yourself with it. And now you can have any at all... For the moment. But you will!! I'm 11 months post op and so far there's nothing I can't eat. Of course my portions are much much smaller. You will get here too. Just enjoy each day when the scale is showing you've lost weight. Enjoy feeling your belly shrinking and being able to move and breath better, being able to get on the floor and play with your child, and mostly the gift you are giving to your child that you will live longer!

I went back to the same place I attempted to hike last year when I came within inches of a coiled rattle snack (scurrry) so I didn't finish. Today no snakes to be seen (foggy and rainy) so I actually finished. Steep and difficult at times but I did it ...5 miles in 1:25 not bad for this ole lady with bad knees and to think I could barely walk up the stairs of my own home in 2010 truly blows my mind!!!!
If you are a newbie with bad knees I'm here to tell you anything is possible
Here are a few pics of me at the end of the hike, so happy...also throwing in a before Lord have mercy LOL!

I've recently pulled out some of my size 18s to wear- feeling pretty good about it too. Tonight I decided to pull them all out and they all fit! Then I got bold and looked for my size 16s... Guess who is typing a post in size 16 jeans? ME! No freaking way. To top it all off, I'm down below 220. Unreal. 50lbs in less than three months. Who else loves their sleeve?

Hey, everyone! I'm an AA female and I live in Louisiana! I have been so obsessed with reading the insurance/finance forum, I didn't see this one. I'm coming to the realization that LOTS of folks have had wls. I'm late to the game at 45! But, better late than never, right? I'm just starting my journey. I've been to the first visit and my next one is this coming Wednesday. I'll have a psych eval next week and I've already had a gallbladder ultrasound. I'm on the one shake Meal Replacement plan and have to do the 3 month diet. I guess if things went according to plan, everything would be complete in July and surgery would be in August (my birthday month)! All of you who have had the surgery sound great and positive.
I'm just afraid that I will be denied. I have an 'off the wall' insurance that no one seems to have heard of through my employer. It requires that you prove medical necessity. My bmi is well over 40, I take medication for hypertension, and I don't recall ever seeing under 200 pounds. I'm hoping that's going to do it! Does anyone have any words of encouragement for a sister? **sad face** Thanks!

Ok...(whew...) Here it goes: Are you sitting down???
I like Vienna Sausages and have been madly craving them. So I ate them.

Oh God!! Let's not talk about me celebrating my birthday for ENTIRE month of March.. filled w/ small bites of ice cream, cake and chocolate...Oh, I forgot.. SHOTS!!! April 1st I will be duct taped to this sleeve wagon!! I've been horrible.. but it's been fun!!

I went to my 1 week pre-op appt today. I have lost a total of 24 pounds. Everything is doing well. I got a script for an acid reducer because I had one night where the acid reflux was unbearable! My doc wants me to stay on clear liquids for 3 more weeks!!!!!!! I think I may go crazy!!!!

I'm 1 week post op today. I'm gassy, sore and tired. But I wouldn't trade it for the world!! I have burning/soreness in the biggest incisions so I use a heating pad to combat that. I don't get all my fluids in and I have only been doing one Protein Shake a day. Every time I drink I have the gurgling thing to. I'm not humgry, I just wish I had more choices to drink/eat. I go to my 1st post op appt tomorrow so I hope he advances me to full liquids. I don't want any more Jello ( I purchased too much) and I think that I will not eat the pudding I bought either!

I'm one week today and I"m on pureed...I get in all my liquid I can't eat and drink at the some time cause I get to full to quick... I have a little scar pain but I drive and leaving the house since day three...I still crush my Diabetes Meds to take them...I
'm a little gassy..but other than that I'm Cool...I have a lot of energy in the Morning but I been crashing around 4pm every day. SN; I only taking 1/3 of the Meds I was taking before Getting Sleeve!!

I found a basic guide if anyone is interested...
http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/pdf/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.pdf

I am 9 months out from surgery and have been "maintaining" at 165 for about 3 months now. I have occasionally gotten frustrated at myself for not getting this last 15 lbs. off and getting to my goal weight. It is totally my own fault because I eat anything I want and don't exercise. So yesterday I stop at Wal-Mart on my way home because I have NO shorts that fit and I'm standing there trying to decide what size to buy. The shorts are 50/50 cotton and linen so I know they will stretch when I wear them and I can't decide if I should get a size 8 or a 10 and then it hits me.... why the heck am I giving myself so much grief over these last 15 lbs, this time last year I was trying to decide whether to buy size 18 or 20 shorts!!! Wow life is so awesome now. I can run with my grandchildren, plant the garden with my husband and eat a tiny bit of anything I want and maintain a size 8 or 10. So maybe I will lighten up on myself and just enjoy the moment, I will get to my goal, maybe not right this minute, but I will get there. So I say we enjoy this journey and the new life we've given ourselves. I hope you all have a great day.

So today, I'm in mandatory benefits meeting.. and I find out that my job is changing health insurance providers.. Well, I'm looking through the paperwork and I see that the plan that's comparable to my current insurance has an exclusion for any type of bariatric surgery!!!
Well, let's just say that I started smiling and Thanking God that I had my surgery in Dec!!!.... I'm so glad I decided not to wait until this summer...
Also, I had a birthday dinner Saturday night and my sister thought my plate as my 2 year old niece's plate!! LOL... That made me smile!!!