delta_girl

It wasn't until I had lost around 45 lbs that anyone noticed. It didn't bother me too much because it isn't for them and their opinion of me. Also, your overall shape doesn't change that much unless you really get down to lower numbers. People glance at you and see your shape is the same. If you wear baggy clothes, they can't see the results very easily. Don't be sad at all. As time passes it will be much more noticeable to others.

MMmm.....I'll bet there are just a few hundreds of threads on this topic. Try searching up top.

During the first 12 weeks or so I often had hot herbal tea with Truvia or diet hot chocolate mix (25 calories) in the evenings around 8:30-9 pm. It helped out a LOT. Also a nice treat.

Nice analogy.

Using this form of calculation, I've lost 80% at 6 months.

Nasty food. Didn't even eat that when I was morbidly obese. It's just gross. If you are going to go "there" at least eat something that is higher quality, be sensible about the portion, and feel no guilt.

60% of my loss would put me at 130 lbs. My surgeon's recommendation is 128 lbs, so it is shy of the 60% mark. I have NO problem ending up at 130 lbs!

There is a HUGE change between eating and tastes from the first few weeks to many months out. The two that have shocked me ..and I mean have REALLY shocked me the most, are 1) sweet stuff ....I used to live on these. Now I don't crave them much at all. I can pass by sweets with no feelings of denial or sadness. If I want some, I eat a few bites and am done and do not have any desire to eat more of them. 2) fried things ....I loved fatty foods before. Now I avoid them. When I even think of them I associate them with something gross, greasy, nasty, feeling bad, ......and even more nasty. The few times I've had something fried I have eaten maybe one bite of the crunchy outside, then peeled off the batter and tossed it. These things are not sad or bad. They are GREAT!!! Amazing. A miracle.

Oh geez....I was so busy thinking about you making sure to get in your fluids I didn't even comment on your sweet pup! That must be heartbreaking to see your baby hurt

This is something I've wondered about a lot as well. It depends on what the 60% means. Is that based on a BMI chart? Is it based on the surgeon's suggested loss for you? The reason I've pondered this is that at 5'3", a healthy weight for me is 115 lbs. That is not really skinny, it is in the middle of a healthy weight according to that chart. However, I asked my surgeon's nurse what number they were using. She said 128 lbs. This is quite a bit different from what I had estimated or decided to shoot for. When I asked my surgeon about these weights and told him I was shooting for 115 lbs, he said that I would really need to stay on top of an exercise plan in order to maintain that weight. Then he asked how I would feel if I ended up around 140 lbs. I am guessing he was basing his comment on what he typically sees from his patients. I replied that I would be "delighted." I mean, seriously .... being any version of smaller than I was is a victory. So at 6 months out I am down 72 lbs and weigh 148 lbs. I'm not even trying anymore and I'm still losing weight, though much slower. I have no idea where my body will find its new set point. I'm also being a bit bad. I don't exercise and I drink wine when I want, eat a few Cookies from time to time, I eat out a lot and enjoy the heck out of it when I do. I doubt that my body is going to suddenly quit dropping weight at 6 months. Though I have often read that there is a 6 month honeymoon stage after which losing weight is significantly more difficult (so some comments say), the projection of weight loss goes from a year to a year and a half. (..guessing that is unless you just lose your mind and stop making more good choices than bad). So 60%? I'm STILL wondering where that number comes from and based on what research? How far back does that research go? A few years? A decade? A lot has changed over the last many years with vsg and what they knew then compared to what they are learning now. Any additional information is certainly appreciated on this.

Sure. Just be sure not to get dehydrated. Keeping your body hydrated is very important. Try to make sure you get your vitamins in, too. I once went about two days of eating nothing, just drinking, because I didn't want to eat at all. It passed.

I was cleared for salads at 12 weeks.

Chewing is instinctive. You will find out, by experience, what works best for you. Early on you need to be more aware as your stomach is healing. Later you will have adapted and instinctively know what to do. I don't think that much about it at all now. I probably still eat too fast compared to others, depending on what it is I'm eating. It works for me, though. You will discover what works for you.

This is so true! I traded in all of my granny panties for the boy shorts style since I really do not feel very comfortable wearing floss or bikini styles. I LOVE the boy shorts style. They come in some very cute colors and patterns, fabrics and even lacy accents. They still make me feel comfortable and covered, but also sporty and maybe flirty (not really sexy since I am no looking for that).

Eat or drink what feels good. Reject the rest. Keep healthy choices in mind. The end.

6 months out...and its still falling out nonstop. It will grow back, so no worries. But I'm tired of hair being freaking EVERYWHERE. I have 5 lint rollers.

Over 6 months my weight has gone down, up, down, down, down, up, down, up, down, down, down, down, down, up. It looks like a very slowly declining zig zag up and down. I don't think that it is unusual. What would be odd is if it went straight down like a ski slope.

There is no difference for me pre and post op with the impact of alcohol. I suppose it is different for everyone.

I've never thrown up but had this happen several times, especially with ultra sweet and high fat foods. Serious gas volume happens a lot for me if I eat something that has a lot of fiber or acid.

Hot herbal tea with Truvia in the evenings may help.

Hot herbal tea with Truvia in the evenings may help.

I have one that is the diameter of a golfball. Just one. My PCP said don't bother with surgery. It's been there for a long time and I'll never pass it. Guess that is what a lifetime of yoyo dieting can do to you.

Try a salted lassi. It is similar to kefir. You can always Google recipes, but here is one link: http://www.korasoi.com/blog/2011/03/the-ultimate-savoury-lassis

I no longer crave sugar, but it was one of the main things I ate before. Now I eat very little. I still have homemade candy and birthday cake in my freezer from Christmas and my bday in Jan. I don't like foods that are high in fat because they make me feel sick, but I can eat a very, very small bite or two and be OK. Nothing fried ...ick. Don't care to ever eat that again. So yeah...pretty much you can eat whatever from before as long as it doesn't give you issues. I am actually HAPPY that certain foods are problematic and I hope that they continue to be that way. It makes me avoid them because I there is no positive payoff to consuming them, especially when it causes discomfort, heartburn, upset tummy, or severe gas.

Tonight I was working out of town and went to a restaurant that I didn't know much about just to do something different. I had shrimp enchiladas, black beans and rice with cheese. It had a lot of cheese, a lot of flour tortilla and a lot of creamy sauce. Believe it or not ..I did NOT like it. It was flavorful and had a good taste, but there is no way I can tolerate much of that anymore and therefore do not crave it nor want to eat much of it at all. I had a few bites of the beans, ate the shrimp out of the tortillas (about 5 large shrimp), two bites of rice with cheese and was done. I won't be going back. Almsot everything on their menu was fried, cream sauce, butter, etc. Now a big, huge turn off. Next time I'll be going to more familiar places that have lighter and healthier menu options like japanese or vietnamese.