icon23

How could I forget? This one is a website and it is great at explaining why we have stalls (and what to do): http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html

This isn't a site, but a booklet, but I like it: http://www.muhealth.org/documents/bariatric/Bariatric%20Booklet%20VSG.pdf OP, what are some of the best you've come across?

You look great! Thanks for sharing.

Congrats!!! You look great. Thanks for sharing.

I'll do my best to revive this thread a little: Just wanted to share that I recently told one of my gay besties about my intention to have WLS and, so far, he is the only person that is 100% supportive of my decision. He just wants me to be happy and healthy.

It's after Thanksgiving, but I just found this thread and I wanted to say that I am thankful that my state (WA) just passed gay marriage!

Thanks for sharing your experience thus far and congrats on your progress. As a pre-op, it helps to hear lots of experiences. As far as the holiday parties, are you worried about what people will say to you or about being around lots of food or something other?

Here is another great guide, because I like collecting these and reading up all I can: http://www.muhealth.org/documents/bariatric/Bariatric%20Booklet%20VSG.pdf

Thank you for providing such great inspiration in your story and your photos. Wishing you continued success!

I found it on Amazon.

Congrats!!!

What a nice quote. Thanks for sharing and best of luck to you!

Congrats!!!

Thanks for your responses (and for the record, I will take chewable/sublingual vitamins), but I know that some people here take regular vitamins, not chewables, and also my question applies to medications (not vitamins) that are supposed to be taken with food. I am still just wondering how people who have to swallow pills with food do this if we are supposed to keep drinking and eating as two separate activities. Thanks.

You're doing great! Very inspirational.

Also try to remember that since you are losing so much weight so fast, estrogen is being released from your fat cells and that's enough to wreak havoc on your emotions on its own. I sincerely hope that you are able to feel better about your decision as your body heals and you progress back to a full diet.

I'm still pre-op, but I'm keeping myself plenty occupied with research and thinking of every question I possibly can in the meantime. I was reading a VSG nutrition booklet and it suggests to take vitamins with food post-op and I'm just wondering how this works if you're not supposed to drink and eat at the same time? I can easily see how it would work with chewable vitamins, but the same booklet suggests not being on chewable vitamins after the first month. This would also apply to any medication one might be instructed to take with food. Thanks for your help.

You are not alone. I made the mistake (not really) of stepping on the scale this morning and I've gained weight in the past week since I made up my mind on a date (shhh, don't tell my weight ticker). Since I am still 4 months out, I plan to not go too crazy all at once, but I also want to be done with food funerals and working towards the pre-op diet a month before surgery.

I'm still pre-op, so this isn't exactly an answer to your question, but one thing that comforts me about my decision to go to MX is that the surgery has been approved and performed there longer than it has in the US. I know there are great docs here and there (and not-so-great) and there are many reasons that may be unrelated to the doc's skill that would cause complications to arise, but it is one small thing that makes me feel better.

Definitely a keeper Lucky you!

You look fantastic! Thanks for sharing your pics--very inspirational.

You look fantastic! And thank you for sharing your pics--very inspirational.

I plan to talk to my PCP before I leave for surgery to see if she is able/willing to be responsible for my after care--even without complications, somebody has to order my blood work, right? If she can't/won't, I'll find someone who will. And, as already mentioned, in case of emergency, the hospital (ER) cannot turn you away.

Here's the explanation for the dreaded stall (you can read the full details here, including what to do about it): The Inevitable Stall By Diana C. A "stall" a few weeks out is inevitable, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a saber tooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Breathe, and fuggedaboudit for a few days.

Thanks for being such a great resource!