TheCurvyJones

Yep, she's probably worried that you're going to have surgery and surpassed her. And now the heat is on. Often, the hard part about losing weight among friends is that it's hard for your "heavy" friends to see you doing what they know they should be doing. Long story short, it's not you it's her.

Most people aren't eating potato at 5 weeks out but that's another post.

My surgeons advice is to not let the sleeve dictate when you are done eating. VSG Portion sizes are 2 to 4 ounces at a meal, maximum. If you can eat all of that and be satisfied then you are done. If you become satisfied before you are finished eating that you are done.

Some people may have larger sleeves because they had larger stomachs or their surgeon used a larger bougie. Dont compare, everyone is different. If you're losing you're doing fine but get a ha file on your portion sizes. Just because you can eat it doesn't mean you should, and you should be satisfied, not stuffed.

Carbonation doesn't stretch the sleeve. These are words direct from my surgeon. It does, however, irritate the sleeve, so that's why it's important to not drink strong carbonation and to wait until you're well healed.

Agree with built2livenotexist, I would start your pre op diet. I did several practice runs before surgery. See if you can get your surgeon to agree that if you lose the 8lbs by say Mid November that they'll submit you before the end of November. If you have access to a pool you could swim. Maybe Pilates moves that dont involve standing?

Since you can't exercise strenuously, you'll have to severely modify your diet to create a deficit between what you eat and what you burn. Maybe do shakes during the day and something good and healthy for dinner. I actually like to keep dinner fairly light so I ate during the day and had a shake for dinner. You can pump the shakes up with fruit and veggies and a good Protein powder and maybe something filling like flax.

Also make sure you get in lots of Fiber so that you errrm evacuate on a regular schedule! Good luck to you! I really hate the dangling of the carrot that your doc is doing. Reasons why I self paid and went to Mexico.

Right after lunch she usually gets going. ONe time I was having a conversation and my stomach was LOUD like it was trying to join in. Coworker was trying hard not to laugh.

Just think about how low your caloric intake is, compared to how much you eat before surgery. And how much energy you're expending. So long as you're feeding that hunger with Protein, don't be afraid of eating! A lot of people need to eat every 2 to 2 1/2 hours. I see people 9 months out, afraid to eat because they can get full off of more than 3 bites. That won't last. Agreeing with CowGirlJane, you must learn to manage it.

Also make sure that you're taking an effective PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor). This would be like Prilosec, Nexium, Zantac and the like. Hunger a half hour after eating sounds more like acid than hunger. Just to be sure, make sure you're taking (or increase or change) your PPI to combat that feeling.

I don't know what to think about juicing, but I do know that if you resort to liquids, that doesn't mean like 300 calories all day. Make sure you're still getting in a recommended amount of cals (my surgeon likes to see us at 600- 800 or so cals a day through the first year.

If I can, I would recommend you pick up my surgeons book on the Gastric Sleeve. He's Dr. Guillermo Alvarez and you can find his book on Amazon. He's just printed a second edition -- it's packed with great information like the history of the gastric sleeve, pre op, post op and success beyond the first 12 weeks. Also if you're on Facebook, seek out his private facebook support group-- it's Endobariatric.com in Groups. Lots of people there with good info and some Spanish speaking patients if you're more comfortable in another language.

Yep that's more than 10lbs a month which is fantastic. I agree with Jessiquoi. We need measurable data.

You also should consider curbing any alcohol for awhile. Reason being that it is carby and when your body burns, it will burn the alcohol before it burns any fat.

Our rule is always Protein first. If you're sticking to that, you should be fine. Your loss is GREAT. I know it's hard but try not to compare yourself to others, especially because a person losing 70 lbs in 5 months may have started MUCH heavier than you did and therefore they have more to lose. Eventually EVERYONE slows down... there's no race, so do it right, not fast!

Haaaaaaaaahahaha. My stomach is SO LOUD.

BEFORE I eat. WHile I drink something. AFTER I eat or drink. Noise noise noise. It's pretty funny after awhile.

Oh, this is soooo timely (as I sip my Diet Pepsi...) -- haven't had surgery yet, haven't met s/surgeon yet, but paperwork is in process -- I *love* my DP -- I used to drink regular Coke, but haven't had a 'reg' soda in over two years -- MAJOR accomplishment for someone who used to drink 3-4 cans a day -- and now I hear no more DP after that became my drinkable vice after giving up Coke -- oh well, if I could kick the high fructose corn Syrup habit, I can kick the DP habit too I guess -- what are some alternatives for other DP or D-Coke addicts? Thanks!

You could try a seltzer Water with some sugar free syrup... there's a Water company that makes a sugar free beverage that is flavored.........can't think of the name of it off hand.

Thought... right after surgery you probably aren't going to want a soda. Your sleeve is going to be swollen and capacity will be at a minimum. Plus any kind of carbonation early on will be painful. My cravings have declined gravely since surgery. I just don't want the same things anymore.

And honestly when I do get a soda, I rarely finish it. Those things are 12 oz and I don't have the capacity to drink it before it goes completely flat or gets too watered down, unless it's in an insular container.

Advice from my surgeon who doesn't expect people to NEVER eat or drink certain things again:

The sleeve is often irritated by carbonation, so pour your drink into a glass FULL of ice. Let the ice melt in it a bit and let the fizz settle down. Drink SLOWLY, thru a straw if you can handle it.

I have maybe a soda a week. My sleeve REALLY does not like carbonation much. I shake it, open it, shake it, open it... until most of the fizz is gone. That little that is left plus some COLD ice is refreshing!

I would advise waiting until you are further out and completely healed, like 12 weeks or more.

Yes your face will get smaller. See how big these glasses are on me now???LOL

Dr A just published two books. One is the Second Edition of his first Book, Successful Weight Loss with the Gastric Sleeve. The other is  34 Sleeve Patient Stories: The real truth about Gastric Sleeve surgery in Mexico. More info on the Endobariatric website HERE. 

RNY is fantastic for people with comorbidities. I was healthy, just very overweight. I chose the sleeve because the loss seemed more natural. All I have is a smaller stomach. Everything else is up to me.

I understand I am a revised sleeve from the lap band that was a failure so I live in fear that this is not going to work either...I'm trying not to stay on the scale I'm five months out and thought I would have lost a lot more, I'm not complaining cause I know its going to come off eventually so stay encouraged.

Band to sleeve losses tend to be a bit slower, but still VERY effective! Keep the faith!!!

My husband is very jealous and thinks I'm going to leave him for another man once I lose the weight. Why he so insecure? I don't even know! Makes me feel like he would rather me stay looking bad so no one else would want me. Crazy ! Let me live and be happy with myself. I'm doing this for me. Not no one else.

This common. I would recommend some marriage counseling before you leave... WLS will not kill a happy marriage but the amount of changes you'll go through post op will illuminate and exacerbate ANY cracks in your relationship. There is a reason the divorce rate amongst WLSers is high. Hubs needs to get his head right before you start on this journey, you need his support and he needs to be a part of this journey@ 

I am 22 months out from VSG with Dr. Alvarez. Feel free to PM me with any questions you have. He. is. the. BEST! 

I do believe he oversews, but I can't really remember. I have lost 86 lbs since surgery, 104 since the start of my journey. I find that losses with Dr A's sleeves are steady. Not necessarily rapid fast but I am nearly 2 years out and with proper eating an exercise STILL LOSINGlbs and inches. 

Dr is on Facebook and he has a private group where he and his Patient Coordinator are available to answer questions as well as his patients. Search for Endobariatric.com in GROUPS. 

I looked like someone's middle aged aunt. Ugh, so glad I did it.

Here's what the surgeon that i saw during my seminar said, and I wish docs would address this: It's a Psychological thing. It depends on what kind of eater you are. For example:

meat and potatoes eater, have issues with Portion Control but not huge on sugar, don't drink a lot of calories, mobile, able to stand and move on your own-- VSG would be a good choice. I chose VSG because after the surgeon closed me up, it was all on me. I wasn't counting on some intestinal trickery nor was I counting on an implanted device. Loss seemed the most natural.

Issues with portion control, sugar is a HUGE problem, need to lose a lot of weight in a life or death situation, or immobile/unable to move on your own-- RNY would be a good choice to give you the best chances for weight loss success. Because many RNYers dump, it helps them avoid sugar. Also because of mal-absorption, loss is rapid. My seminar surgeon referred to it as the Cadillac of weight loss surgeries.

Fairly active, don't have issues with portion control OR sugar, just have weight problem and need some additional help to slow down and stop eating when you're full-- Lap Band may be a good choice. WARNING that Lap Band requires the MOST amount of work. Successful Banders I know go at it pretty hard, every day. Takes an enormous amount of work to be successful. There are also some issues with the band-- I see a lot of revisions due to slips and stomach erosion, plus people just not knowing how to care for themselves with the band.

I HAVE heard that Duodenal switch is the Supercharger of the WLS Surgeries. The Sleeve is only part ONE of the DS procedure. DS is good for people with a significant amount of weight to lose.

Soup (chili with cheese and sour cream, OH EM GEE), Broccoli cheese soup was good, too. A Protein shake is calories and Protein, that's all you need. It doesn't have to be fancy, just sustenance to stoke the fire your body needs to run on. Some cheese, yogurt.......more cottage cheese.... I mean... it just has to be food.

Generally not being able to keep food down may be a sign of a swollen sleeve. Use kid gloves and keep it soft and liquid and make sure you don't dehydrate. A lot of people can't handle white meat chicken. Try dark. Or wait on chicken, it's not required to eat it.

Also...There are also many forms of protein that aren't meat.

I told very few people at first. Some guessed. I was okay with it. Some saw my loss and asked. I was honest. If they have an issue with my decision that is their problem. I'm going to do what I am going to do and I can't stop anyone from judging me.

In this age of social media it seems like people need to shout their personal decisions from the rooftops. It's really no one's business but mine... however it is the most open, worst kept secret ever.

The one thing I AM open about is how healthy I eat and how much I work out. Whether they know or not, I don't want people to see me sitting around eating Bon Bons and dropping 100lbs, like everyone THINKS Weight loss surgery works.

It can take up to two weeks for the gas to pass. It gets SO MUCH BETTER. Hang in there, get lots of rest and give yourself time to heal.

Ralphs/Kroger sell a brand called CarbMaster. Really low in sugar and good taste if you don't get too wild with flavors (I don't like super sweet yogurt, so carrot cake yogurt is just a big old no).

You can sip, very quickly. You will not be able to gulp down swallow after swallow after swallow. As time goes on, you will realize your true sleeve capacity because you won't be swollen. I work out five days a week. Cooling down hasn't been a problem.

Hooray! Welcome to the Loser's Bench!

So excited at the possibility of not having to try every 9W shoe in creation to find one that fits. I will probably be a 8 1/2 since I get an extra size for the width. Chubby feet, bye, bye!

I have the same " ( - ) " around my mouth. Can't wait to see them gone.

Your nose is not big @bellabill. It looks absolutely proportional but I suspect a little layer of fat will go but bone and cartilage will stay.

I went down a full shoe size. My mom went down two!