VSGKirk

1 stool softener for me nightly - keeps it manageable. Fiber and laxatives give me gas and diareah.

0. What type of weight loss surgery have you had? VSG

1. How long have you been in maintenance mode? 2 years

2. What's your current height and weight? 6' 1" 213 lbs

3. How many calories do you eat daily (on average) to maintain your weight? Unknown (Not tracking)

4. What kind of focus do you put on Protein -- number of grams or anything else you want to say? Unknown, but I try to only eat items that are at least double digits in Protein.< /span>

5. What kind of focus do you put on carbs - number of grams or anything else you want to say? None

6. What other nutritional tips / tricks are working for you that help you maintain? My habits did not change drastically from the losing phase into the maintenance phase. I eat very similiarly, but it either larger quantities or more frequently. The type of food hasn't changed.

7. Which foods, if any, do you avoid altogether? Doughy - it's just too uncomfortable and unsatisfying

8. What exercise regimen (exercise types and frequency) do you follow? None, but I have enrolled in a program recently to help change that!

9. What role, if any, has counseling or therapy played in your WLS success? Huge role - I go to 1:1 therapy bi-weekly.

10. What advice would you offer WLS patients to help them be successful? Understand (and believe) that goal is not a number, remember that success is a sum of many small decisions, everything in moderation, progress not perfection, eat real food, move as often as you can, reach out to your WLS family whenever necessary!

Hey guys!

It's been a while since I've been on here (got very distracted with Facebook and YouTube).

Congrats to all of the newer sleevers and I hope to reconnect with folks on this board!

Reach out to me any time - for now, I'll be trying to get caught up on here!

Kirk

SO glad I just found this forum! Sleeved on 4/2. Still in the "what have I done phase." I have been in the Bear community forever and feeling rather alone now.

Recovering Bear, myself and don't worry - you'll find where you fit! Reach out to me on Facebook if you ever want to chat - I'm VSG Kirk on both FB and YT.

You go, girl!

Having VSG was by far the best decision I've made in a very VERY long time.

Good luck to you!!!!

I talk about my first time at a Korean Spa!

I wouldn't worry too much about the number and keep your focus exactly where you have it - on the process. Sounds like you are doing everything right - keep up the great work!

Suspenders have become my best post-op tool...

Oh Lady Faye (Southernsoul) - We'll definitely make room for you any time!

We went to a Weight Loss Surgery convention this past weekend in Anaheim CA where not just sleevers, but banders and RNYers also came together from all over the country to learn more about obesity management. The group you see me with are folks I've only ever really met online and we used this as an excuse to all meet face-to-face for the first time!

Nice Protein though!

350 lbs in December 2012

212 lbs in September 2013

You are a great mom just for the mere fact you are questioning this. I grew up with a fat mom and I in turn became a fat child and subsequently a fat adult. I watched my mom suffer with obesity a majority of her life and I wish she could have experienced just 1 day of how wonderful I feel post VSG surgery. Your risk of dying was much higher during child birth and you made it through that. You've got this!

Did you just have a swallow-test or other xray where you had to drink barium or something?

No Pickle Juice drinking - but so weird, I was eating a crunchy cold dill pickle while opening this thread!

In my latest video update I describe a sleep eating incident - does that happen to anyone else while taking a sleep aid?

Welcome!!! We are here for you when you need us

I don't have anything to contribute to the insurance coverage portion of your questions/comments, but just wanted to say hope it all goes well for you and we are all here if you need us!

Hey Amanda!

Very excited for you and what you are feeling is TOTALLY NORMAL.

You are taking a very important step to prolonging your life and being around for your son for many many years to come.

Be prepared to have it all happen so fast - and before you know it, you'll be in recovery.

You might have good days and bad days, but I'll tell you, each day gets better, each day gets easier, each day you get one day closer to feeling and looking better than you have in years!

Sending positive vibes your way for Tuesday!

Good luck Diva!

It will be a blur and it will be over before you know it.

When you start to get nervous, picture how FIERCE you are going to look and how FANTASTIC you are going to feel New Year's Eve this year!

Scared? Naw, don't be scared. Well, be a little scared, because you are going to spend A LOT of money on new clothes, LOL

You will have good days and bad days, but I promise your bad days post-op will be MUCH better than any "good" day being morbidly obese.

Take care and welcome to the loser's bench!

I'd say you can have those things when your specific programs says you can - it varies so greatly from one program to another I've noticed from participating in the forum for the past 8 months.

Hugh Jackman comes out of the closet and asks me to marry him... oh, wait... was this supposed to be VSG related?