rmeofone

I too had surgery with Dr. Almanza in May 2016 and I still say to this day (and I'm sure I will continue to say) that the care I received before, during and after the surgery was above and beyond what I have ever received here in the US. I had a major anxiety attack before my surgery because I went alone and my husband wasn't with me. They even calmed me down from that before taking me in. It was a Friday when I was there and one of their busiest days. I want to say there were about 8-10 of us in the group. They had a full cardiac evaluation before the surgery, the doctor sat down and introduced himself, spent time with all of us and told us all about himself. The hotel afterwards wasn't the Ritz but it was clean, had all of the amenities needed and it was comparable to something like a Laquinta Inn. Maybe not my first pick but definitely acceptable to me. Their nurses and doctor following up in the hotel did so professionally and practiced sterile and clean technique (I've been an RN for many years and I knew what to look for) and now my husband is going to the same this summer.
I agree...I am betting that most of the people saying negative things about this doctor are those who are hearing all of it second hand and not experiencing the doctor or practice firsthand.

Coming up on twenty years married and two years post-op. Our marriage is stronger than ever.

I'm just going to put this out there. Surgery to lose "only" 90lbs could be the difference between living another 20 years versus living another 40 years. Is it worth it if you could extend your life by 20 years?

Unfortunately, I'm learning that they ALL have unwanted calories! (Damned!) I can prob max at 3 G&T's. You'll notice a difference between fountain tonic and fresh tonic from an unopened bottle. Much more Fizz in the latter. No problem with wine either. I DID notice that my weight plateaued (even increased) when I drink regularly (Its been a really crappy year...).

Oh, nooooooooooo!
Well, then....what's done is done. Time to start over. Just as a refresher, here are the basic concepts again:
While you are hanging out here for support, you can initiate the following steps that most of our plans have us do for our pre-op preparations.

Drink no calories.

Drink Water until your eyeballs float - 64 - 80+ ounces per day.

Don't eat anything made in a factory. You can do this by shopping the perimeter of the supermarket and avoid the aisle unless you need a spice or paper towels...that kind of stuff.

Eat at least 60 ounces of Protein per day, and at any meal, eat your Protein first - then veg - then fruit.< /span>

Dessert should be something like an apple, not apple pie with two scoops of ice cream.

Avoid sugar, grease, and salt as much as possible. Eating clean will help you discover the real taste of natural food. If it weren't for sugar, grease and salt, McDonald's would have no business. When I gave up candy bars and started eating dark chocolate, I realized that it wasn't the chocolate I missed - it was the sugar.

Try to wean yourself off of soda and diet soda. Most bariatric plans discourage soda pop and anything with bubbles post-op.

Reduce starchy carbs like bread, flour, sugar, rice, noodle, biscuits, white potatoes, macaroni, spaghetti etc.


So what is left to eat? meat, eggs, cheese, Beans, Peanut Butter, yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts, and fresh fruits and non-starchy veggies. You can adjust your current recipes to reduce carbs. The World According to Eggface is a good place to start. Check out the forum here for recipes, also Sparkpeople.com and Myfitnesspal.com.

Many of us use Myfitnesspal.com for logging our food every day. It is really an eye-opener if you are honest with yourself about what you eat.

Weigh and measure your food to accurately acknowledge your actual portion size. There is a scientific principle that says, "You cannot control that which you do not measure."

Exercise where you can. Move your body every day. Don't become part of the sofa.
Hugs for a new start. Now, off you go!

Unfortunately, I'm learning that they ALL have unwanted calories! (Damned!) I can prob max at 3 G&T's. You'll notice a difference between fountain tonic and fresh tonic from an unopened bottle. Much more Fizz in the latter. No problem with wine either. I DID notice that my weight plateaued (even increased) when I drink regularly (Its been a really crappy year...).

I've been trolling for a little while and posted a few threads. I've seen others get verbally attacked and bullied on this site and all I want to say is don't be a bitch to folks here. Most of us already have suffered some type of abuse in some form or another and it isn't necessary.
Is hurting other people making you feel better about yourself? I thought this site was to build people up ...let's be positive to one another and not hateful there is enough of that in the world already!!!!

It's not easy but I think a main success factor is facing that the surgery gets you "launched" but doesn't do the work for you. In the beginning it does and over time it becomes pretty much 100 our choices that do the work.
The best way to regain feeling of restriction is to go back to all the sleeve basics including tiny portions. In a few days you are likely to feel restriction again.

Don't care to drive??
I chauffeur...
jk... Alan

Don't care to drive??
I chauffeur...
jk... Alan

CGJ,
It's your call, but since I already know, we might as well go out!

-Alan
(Posted by Alan's sister, since men aren't allowed in here)

CGJ,
It's your call, but since I already know, we might as well go out!

-Alan
(Posted by Alan's sister, since men aren't allowed in here)

This TOM guy sounds like a real jerk! You should dump him!

CGJ,
It's your call, but since I already know, we might as well go out!

-Alan
(Posted by Alan's sister, since men aren't allowed in here)

CGJ,
It's your call, but since I already know, we might as well go out!

-Alan
(Posted by Alan's sister, since men aren't allowed in here)

It's ok to be nervous. FWIW, I was basically your size before the surgery last year (1/21/13). I went down to Mexico, because of the Dr's experience and relatively low cost.
I couldn't be happier. Down to 195 from 175, Off Metformin. Off Lipitor. Blood pressure back to normal Knees don't ache anymore.
Maximize the first six months, as that's when the bulk of the weight comes off. I was simply not hungry (for the first time n my life). The weight loss for me stopped after that, but I've maintained for over six months now and am much happer and energetic.
Good luck!!
I forgot to mention.... aside from cycling several times / week over the summer, I haven't really begun to excercise on a regular basis. Can't imagine the results when i do!

CGJ,
It's your call, but since I already know, we might as well go out!

-Alan
(Posted by Alan's sister, since men aren't allowed in here)

CGJ,
It's your call, but since I already know, we might as well go out!

-Alan
(Posted by Alan's sister, since men aren't allowed in here)

CGJ,
It's your call, but since I already know, we might as well go out!

-Alan
(Posted by Alan's sister, since men aren't allowed in here)

Mauhahaha... I read it last night !!

Hi, to clear things up.. when I had my surgery with Dr A. I never had any compltions, I felt safe and had a very good out come.. I just thought in a more traditional hospital setting. I would of received more one on one time.....it was just kind of small and cramped..

I had Almanza. 4 months ago. He was great, I felt safe the whole time, the staff was excellent, and I was never afraid of the surgical center vs. the hospital. Everything went very smoothly and I would not hesitate to recommend him.
I had no issues at all after surgery and I think he did a great job. I have a sleeve that will tolerate anything I put in it and he must have stapled/sewn me up real good on the inside because this thing does not stretch and it does not hold much at all.
A lot of people seem to have doubts or reservations about Almanza, but from my perspective they are unfounded. You will most likely get some links to horror stories or someone will tell you that he is a 'dangerous man'. Not true and if you poke around enough you will find unpleasant stories about most any doctor - foreign or domestic.
It was fine and he will give you exactly what you ask for.

I'm in Columbus as well. Sleeved on 1/21/13. Hope you don't mind a fella chiming in!

So I can get my sleeve AND have sex with a young, hot doctor?! Lol

Once you are totally healed most people can eat everything.. Some have a hard time with Pasta, rice and bread the first year but it gets back to normal at some point.