MizzouGirl

Mindful eating is definitely not easy. There are so many distractions, even hunger after waiting for so long.

That sounds awful I'm still in post op liquid stage but I will be sure to keep stories like your in mind when I try to eat again.
Your tacos do sound like a great idea!

That's one of my biggest fears that I would forget and take too big of a bite, not chewing properly! It's probably one really big reason I'll hold off on alcohol....potential for forgetfulness and hunger. Bad combination. As I have been feeling more normal it is easier to forget about "mindful eating". Thanks fot the reminder!

Been there but as time passes I am much better about not too much or too fast. Hang in there. I still eat while watching tv and have made it work for me. In a 1/2 hour show i eat and try to make it last the whole show. When i eat at the table it can be boring and i get tempted to eat more quickly. Whatever works but those underlying principles remain. Best wishes.

Who goes on vacation weighing 202.8, leaves the scale at home, imbibes in a bit too much wine and pineapple rum, grazes a little on dry Snacks, steals a few bites of ice cream and still loses 3.4 pounds, now weighing in at 199.4?
This girl right here!
Now I am back to tracking, back to the exercise routine and determined to loosen up these size 14s I could button today. (Ignore the screaming wedgie in the back, I will not be wearing these quite yet.)
Wooooot!

oooh ouch. Been there. Once. And hope to never do it again. I feel your pain! This is some serious behavior modification we've signed up for, isn't it?!
On a different note....your healthy tacos sound really yummy !

I can't wait to eat either! In the meantime I am thinking of recipes and feeding others.
Bad joke but if you have what I call "guy humor" which I do, you will appreciate this (additional thread hijack) joke.
Comedian said that when it gets late at night at the bar, and he's drunk, he's got two choices. Go home with the fat lady, or try to drive drunk and go to jail. He always picks the fat lady, because he knows that at least at her house, the food is good
That's us. The food is good at our house because my husband and I both love to cook and feed people.
(Not trying to offend anyone, so please keep a sense of humor and don't flame me!)

Thanks for sharing your story --- loved your candor! I'm a little over 9 weeks post op and soooo happy with my decision to have the sleeve - I'm confident you will be happy as well. Love Masterchef and Graham Elliot - didn't know he had the sleeve so thanks for sharing that tidbit. Best wishes to you and keep us updated on your journey.

Hello everyone!
I have been checking out this site for a few weeks and figured it was time I introduced myself. My name is Melissa (41, 252 lbs, 5'1") and I've been overweight/obese most of my life. You know, it's kind of weird - I remember my 5th grade class picture and I was little and cute. Everything from there on out through middle school I have vague memories of some crap happening then but now I just remember putting on the pounds. I graduated high school at 160 and well, just never really stopped.
My mom passes away out of the blue one day of sudden cardiac death and when then happened it really shook me to my core. After that happened I, in no particular order, divorced my first husband (something that should have been done long before I did), quit my long time job of academic advising, moved to TN, married a new wonderful man who treats me like a queen, started culinary school, graduated, started my own personal chef business and will also be teaching culinary arts at a local culinary school this fall. This has all happened in the last four years!
I've tried Weight Watchers more times that I can remember - was only really successful once and even then it was going from 229 to 187. I've done other diets, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, went to the gym, saw a nutritionist, tried hypnosis, yeah, I am a diet veteran for sure. But they never worked. And it wore on me because I'd always say to myself "What is your problem - you know what to do - just do it!" But I never could.
Heard a lot of negative stuff about WLS - thought smugly to myself that I'd never take the "easy way out." Everyone knows people just gain the weight back - and don't even get me started about all the complications people have. And besides, I'm a chef - I can't do something where it's going to automatically cause dumping anytime I take a bite of anything.
Another thing keeping me from pursuing surgery was the fact that for most of my life I had relatively few complications. In 2009 I started meds for high cholesterol. This May I started meds for high blood pressure, depression, and was told I was prediabetic. Hmmm....I guess when they say once you hit 40 everything starts going downhill was true But I still wasn't thinking surgery.
But then I saw Graham Elliot had VSG - he's a fab chef from Chicago (you may have seen him on Masterchef). Hmm, here's a fellow chef getting this surgery done - surely he won't do it if it's going to cripple his livelihood. So I did some research. Heck, who am I kidding? I did a ton of research. And I realized it's not the easy way out. Any one who says that just doesn't know what all is involved. But I also realized it may very well be a very viable option for me.
The bad news is my insurance has an exclusion and won't cover it and at first my husband was a bit reluctant to get on board. Every time I'd mention it he'd change the subject. Fortunately, we have a pretty awesome relationship and I finally said hey, what gives - why do you keep changing the subject when I bring this up? Turns out on of his ex's family members had WLS 15 years ago and had a boatload of complications. Once I explained to him that #1 I wasn't looking at having gastric bypass and #2 a whole lot has changed in the past 15 years in WLS he was onboard.
Realizing my health is very much in a perilous spot, I've decided it's time to do something. My husband loves to be active, and well, right now, I don't. He never complains, but I want to do more things with him. And yeah, not going to lie, I would love to be able to shop in a regular size store for the first time in, ohhhh.....probably over 30 years.
While there are a number of surgeons nearby who perform the surgery - the going self-pay rate is about 20K. However, with help from folks here I have found a doc in Texas who has a much more reasonable self pay rate. We will still need to finance some of it, but it seems much more reasonable now and financing under 10K sounds so much better than financing 20K.
I look forward to learning more from all of you and hopefully contributing a lot too!
Melissa
This site has been a huge help to me so thank you all

It wasn't until the 5-6 week mark that I really felt like myself again. I still burp all of the time and have diarrhea about half of the time. But, I'm down 48 lbs and feel better than I have in a very long time. It will get better - I promise. Some of us take longer than others to recover. I know it can be confusing when you read the stories from people who seem not to be fazed or affected at all - I think that's the exception rather than the rule but I'm no expert. Hang in there and let us know in a couple weeks if you are feeling differently.

Thank you thats makes me feel better because i was expecting to just snap back as if ntg happened. So i am looking foward to feeling like myself again.

It wasn't until the 5-6 week mark that I really felt like myself again. I still burp all of the time and have diarrhea about half of the time. But, I'm down 48 lbs and feel better than I have in a very long time. It will get better - I promise. Some of us take longer than others to recover. I know it can be confusing when you read the stories from people who seem not to be fazed or affected at all - I think that's the exception rather than the rule but I'm no expert. Hang in there and let us know in a couple weeks if you are feeling differently.

Hey everyone, my name is Travis. This is my first post here and the beginning of what I hope to be a very fulfilling and powerful journey to a healthier body. I guess I'll start by talking about the root of the problem and why I have decided to do this. I am currently 25, will be 26 in October, and currently sitting at 330 pounds. I have always been larger ever since I can remember and it has always been something that has been a part of my life. Thankfully I do not have any kind of health problems from my weight yet. My joints, cholesterol, and blood pressure are all fine. Obesity does not run in my family, my parents are average and my sister is a varsity cheerleader and a flyer at that. I also wouldn't say that I'm sedentary. Even at my size I play full court basketball, can run a mile, and I am an avid kayak fisherman. It's almost been like I have had these chains around me slowing me down my entire life, and quite frankly I'm tired of it. That is why I am counting down the days to my surgery date, September 13th, 2013. I simply cannot wait to start my new life. My surgeon is Dr. Jaime Ponce in Chattanooga, TN. He seems to be a very knowledgeable and kind doctor with pretty good bedside manner. Haha he managed to handle my mother's 1,000 questions and concerns very well during our pre-op meeting last month. So anyways this is me, I look forward to posting here more and speaking with all of you!

Can I go eat at your Mom & Dads? I need something to jump start me.

I am sorry love. But unfortunately its the price we pay. It will get better I promise. I remember thinking to myself what the hell did I do to myself but now I am in love with my sleeve. I have lost 37 pounds and feel great. Hope you get better soon.

I hope everything is OK. Please keep us posted. Prayers, best wishes and tons of support going out to your hubby!!!

To whom it may concern:
Surgery is scary. Leaving the country can be scary. Leaving the country to have surgery?Terrifying.
Coordinators:
We don't need bogus reviews, paid reviews, vague reports of tragedy, and referral kickbacks out there amongst us muddying the waters. We need you to answer our questions... Honestly. We need you to hold our hands in spirit and in person whenever possible. We need you to represent your company and the surgeons who contract through said company with integrity and dignity. If you struggle defining those words or relating to them I suggest a career change.
Medical Tourists:
We need some solidarity. We are all, or have been, in the same boat. For whatever reason surgery at home isn't happening. We've made the bold decision to reclaim control over our obesity and we've kicked it up a notch.
All VST members:
We come from all walks of life. Various roads and life experiences have brought us all to this point. WLS. Many of us, if not all if us, have been criticized or teased regarding our weight issues. Many have felt "less than" because we are "more than". Why on earth are we attacking each other? What are we gaining from it?
Take a long look in the mirror. Tell yourself you are going to try and be the best *you* that you can be. And then... Live it. Own it.
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

I was sooooo nervous too. Almost called the whole thing off the morning of the surgery but I made it through and am so happy 10 weeks on the other side. One of the best things I've ever done. Best of luck to you!!!

I would say you're more of a petite fisher lady.

Wow, time flies! I am 2 years post op... My story: I started in the 260's..... made my very modest weight loss goal (170lbs) in 9 months and have been maintaining fairly easily since, (a few ups and downs!) At one point I was up 7-8 pounds but I am currently holding within 2 pounds of my low weight. I was eating sliders for sure, I caught myself and got back on track with normal eating. I still have hunger, I only lost it for about 4 months. I still have fair restriction, but sliders are almost as easy to eat as before. I eat anywhere between 1500-2000 calories a day to maintain. I don't eat low carb, but I try to fuel my body healthily. Don't get me wrong, I still eat cheezits and cookie dough for dinner sometimes! I drink 2-3 beers per week, and drink sparkling Water everyday, no troubles with carbonation. I bike or slowly jog/ walk a few days a week. Nothing crazy. I have a fairly active job as a RN. I have ZERO loose skin BUT I am 170 pounds, so if i wanted to see 130 pounds I might run into that problem. I wear as size 12 and mediums and some larges. (pre-op I was 2x and 24 easy) I would like to maintain my weight for another year then try to lose 10 more pounds. I am super happy, best decision I have ever made to get the sleeve. I am 30 years old and weigh less today then I did when I was 12 years old!
I am very grateful for this website, I have been on nearly everyday for the past 2 1/2 years, and I will keep coming back to help keep me in track!

I'm 10 weeks out and starting to lose tons of hair. I've got a very thick head of hair so hoping it won't be noticeable but guess time will tell.

Just to be clear.......they mean Hair loss from your head. Just back from a beach vacation and the old bikini line was - uh - not affected by VSG hair loss.

I find it most helpful when others make their food diary visible to your friends. You have to go into settings/diary settings and select friends only under diary setting. The default is private.
If you share your food diary with friends, please add me. Username rlindameyerhoeffer
Thanks!

Big sleeve is a guy so he prolly thinks its 12 inches.

I find it most helpful when others make their food diary visible to your friends. You have to go into settings/diary settings and select friends only under diary setting. The default is private.
If you share your food diary with friends, please add me. Username rlindameyerhoeffer
Thanks!