mkb805

I hope so too! I can totally understand this is my first surgery and its terrifying. However it's something I need to do! The same with you! At least your taking some route to weight loss and that's what matters!

I was given blood thinners after surgery and I dont have a history. I think its routine to give the blood thinners. Also, I was not required to loose any weight either and I started at 330. But if your not 100% confident with your surgeon u may want to look around.

I had to do 2 weeks worth of a liquid diet, in all honesty. the first 3 days are probably the worst, i was craving foods i never would eat on a normal basis.
Here is what i did:
My shakes were from my doctors office, but they are Bariatric Advantage shakes. I had 3-4 a day. In the middle of all that, I had chicken broth and vegetable broth, apple sauce, and Jello, apple juice and loads of crystal light and Water, eventually Jello becomes quite filling.
I occasionally had sugar free, fat free pudding. To mix it up, i went and bought wonton Soup and had that without the wontons, just to change what I was eating....errr....drinking.
good luck, you can do it!!

You all can do this!! We are doing it together!! I am on 3rd wk postop and have had my challenges but it gets better. The KEY is 60-80 oz of Fluid and approx 80g of Protein. liquid multi Vitamins from Walgreens (the complete & keep it chilled) 2x a day will help too.
For preops, I was tired too preop, like a drained feeling. Postop its a different kinda tired. In the beginning, the healing process drains you in a different way. The crucial aspect first and foremost is hydration!!! Focus on your fluids. When you are doing well with that then incorporate the Protein goal. Dehydration can show as nausea, so whatever you have to do, get in the fluids. Use Water, Crystal Light in your Water, broth.. whatever it takes.
You all can do this!!! Hang in there... It DOES get better...

I'm going to use tough love here. First, if you were that happy fat-why did you have the surgery? Secondly, your goal weight of 165 will NOT happen with that kind of attitude. Does your Dr not have an aftercare support group? Have you gone & seen him & told him what is going on? I found out I am allergic to whey Protein & it has made it difficult to get my protein in as the alternatives don't taste that great-but ya know what? I went into this knowing it was NOT a quick fix...that I would need to change my eating habits & my thoughts about food for the rest of my life. I was ready! It sounds like you are not mentally prepared for this. Are you sure your sips are sips & not gulps? Make sure the liquids aren't ice cold. Make sure you are taking small bites & taking 30 min to eat. No liquids 30 min before or until 30 min after. These instructions make a difference in how it feels to your stomach. It takes 4-6 weeks for your stomach to heal. In the meantime, it is inflamed, so adding things to it is going to hurt a little but it shouldn't hurt that much. Again, make sure your Dr is aware of the issues you are having & make sure he takes them seriously. You CAN do this if you really want it!!!! I wish you the best of luck.
I had no problems at all except the whey allergy. First day home from the hospital, I got my 64 oz of Water in & my 70-80 g of protein. No pain, no heartburn.

It's as if my body suddenly got wise to the fact that I'm having VSG surgery, and it's crying out for that glorious day!
Just since starting the long pre-surgery process, my knee suddenly has a mysterious "snap, crackle, pop!"....my left heel is totally rebelling...and my tailbone is starting to say enouuuughhh! LOL. Thankfully these things haven't been an issue until now because of my weight....but man, is the timing almost comical
Can't freakin' wait!! That is all.

Thank God you were at home and not out in public!

and by the way another pet peeve of mine is Victoria Secret... they never had my bra size.. or panty size.. so someday I wanna go in there and say, show me everything you got!! Lol!!!

You look AMAZING!!!!!!! I don't really have advice either. I attract creepers

i completely agreewith what you said. what i also hate is that their prices are a complete rip off. just cause we are fluffy doesnt mean they have to gouge us with the prices. i was there about 2 weeks ago and this little see through shirt was 70$! if i had the money i would open up a fluffy store and not only would it be cheaper but the clothes would be cute and fit correctly. not all big girls have a dd! . me and my little b's can never find a cute fitted shirt there because they are all made for big chested women. and me, not so blessed in that department

I cancelled my Lane Bryant Credit Card today. Good feeling. I appreciate LB for what they had for me back then. But I am ready to rediscover new things. Can't wait!!

I cant wait to shop at normal stores. No more feeling pathetic when I go somewhere that doesnt have my size. I cant wait to take my dog for a walk with out feeling like I am going to have a heart attack. I cant wait to be able to buckle the car seatbelt (Right now I just put it around the e-brake) I also cant wait to finally be healthy and active again.

I'm looking forward to.....
Being able to cross my legs.
Being able to walk in to any store and buy some pants off the rack.
To not being a disappointment to my 6y/o daughter who cried when she was told she looks like her momma, simply because her mom is fat.
To being able to ride any ride I so choose at a theme park/fair/carnival.
To being comfortable in my own skin and not feel as if others are judging me because of my size.
To holding my head up with pride when I put on a bathing suit in front of people.
To being able to see my girl parts without lifting my tummy and looking in a mirror.
To having a good sex life (don't get me wrong it's alright but it could and would be a whole heck of a lot better if there was less of me)
(the list goes on...I don't think you REALLY want me to continue, lol)

Having surgery November 17th.
I will not miss...
having a beach towel be the only towel that fits around me all the way
Not having to be the funny fat girl or getting "she has a pretty face"
Not being the only one finishing all my food and doing it faster than everyone else
Being able to shop at the same stores as my skinny minnie sisters
I want to be healthy and fabulously beautiful for my new husband and future children! Its going to be awesome and everyone should be so proud of themselves for taking charge of their lives, health and not just sitting there hoping that one day it will happen. Bravo!

Was someone looking for me? I saw the word "stud" so I figured I better check in.

Although I really want to give you a silly picture, I'll be serious this time:
Getting "drunk" is not good for anyone, sleeve or no sleeve. Every time you drink, the ethanol is having an effect on your central nervous system. Alcohol diffuses (spreads out) to your body tissues. It also thickens your blood, hence the post-drunkenness headaches.
You are only 5 weeks out. You don't want alcohol entering your stomach that has recently been cut. While I have no fundamental objections to alcohol and before the sleeve was a rare drinker, you being anxious to get drunk is no bueno.
Dang...that was hard.

I've heard Nioxxin really helps along with taking Biotin each day. I am having similar problems with my hair and taking biotin everyday. I haven't tried the Nioxxin yet buy have seen good reviews for it.

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern