Shrinkingmom

LOL! This is a great thread! Everyone gets to "confess" and know noone is going to say anything about it.

I second Luvin_life! I am not only a bariatric surgery patient who is 2 1/2 years out but I am also a nurse of 32 years. Those "diets" are what got us all here in the first place. This is not a bariatric "diet", this is a way of life that you chose when you had the surgery. Hopefully you were well informed on the requirements of maintaining health after having 80+% of your stomach removed. Who's timetable are you on that says you have to lose so much a month, week, year, etc.? Everybody is different and you will lose weight. Do you realize that you said you weren't doing what you are supposed to like exercising and eating Protein and you know it but yet you are going to revert back to doing a "diet" that you have probably tried in the past that will be detrimental to your health, especially now that you have certain health needs that are non-negotiable like protein and Vitamins and minterals? I am not trying to preach but be patient and follow the plan you paid a Physician thousands of dollars to give you and risk your life to do. (Just being put to sleep is a serious health risk especially when you are obese). Do the exercise and the protein the correct way and it will come off. You are risking serious health complications and malnutrition if you do not get the required protein. My niece is going through that now and has to have transfusions monthly because she did not follow what the Dr. told her and she is 10 years out. She has ruined her health because she did not want to eat the protein and go by the plan the Dr. gave her. She is only 36 years old and will probably never recover!!! Please take care of your health and I am hoping that is why you decided to do this anyway and not to just lose weight. I hope you hear the compassion and caring in this because believe me it is there!!! I wish you only the best!!

I still get these hiccups when I eat a little too much and I am 2 1/2 years out. I know if I hiccup I have eaten one bite too many. It is really a help to you!

The good thing is that we are all different and can make our own decisions about whether to tell or not. My decision is not necessarily right for anyone else, nor is anyone else's decision right for me. It is neither right or wrong but a decision you make based on your life choices and experience. It is all good!

At first, I did not want to tell anyone but then I felt like I was lying when I said I was just eating less. I finally realized that I wasn't telling because I was ashamed of having to have the surgery and I was embarassed. Somehow it made me feel like I was weak. After I realized that, I decided that I was not going to lie about it any more because it did not make me a weak person but a smart person to take the bull by the horns and do something about the life-long weight issue that I had dealt with. Since I have been very open about it, I have gotten both negative and positive feedback but far more positive. I have also had a lot of people who wanted to know details and ended up getting the procedure for themselves. They have since thanked me for being honest and giving them that hope. All this being said, we all handle it differently and my way is not for everyone. You have to make that choice but make sure you are not holding back because of your own feelings about the surgery. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GREAT LOSS SO FAR!!

AWESOME JOB!!!! Woohooooooo!! That is definately something to celebrate!!

Have goals that are not weight related such as walking 1 mile without stopping, then cutting that time down, or walking 2 miles. Do short term, achievable goals. I recently ran my first 5K but my very first goal was to walk a mile, then 2, then 3, then walk a 5k, then run 1 minute, run 3 minutes, run 5 minutes, etc. until I ran the 5K. These all get you to your weight goals but are acheivable. I did not reward myself because the scales and the sense of accomplishment was enough for me but you may want to buy something new when you hit the goal. Be creative and make the journey fun!! GREAT JOB on getting under 300!!! Keep up the good work!

The problem is usually not dissapointment in you but in themselves for not being able to make that decision. I once felt that way and I'm ashamed to say, that I responded that way to a family member who was going to have the surgery. Part of it was fear and part was thinking that it was "the easy way out" and you can do it on your own if you try! Once she sees your journey and watches how you handle things and that you aren't going to die right in front of her, she will probably be wanting to know where to sign up. The best thing is for her to see your journey and learn what a committment it really is. I think you handled it great!

Learn to be very creative. Use greek yogurt or cottage cheese with unsweetened jello powders for different flavors. Put chocolate protein powder and PB2 powder in yogurt for a great breakfast that reminds you a little bit of a reese cup. Refried black beans with a little taco seasoning and melted cheese is great. Pureed chicken with alfredo sauce or marinara sauce and cheese is great. Pureed tuna salad or egg salad is also good. Instant potatoes with cheese is also very good and when you use powedered milk in it, it increases your protein. Become a mixologist with those protein powders using jello powders and sugar free syrups as well as instant coffee to make some really great treats. Especially when you blend with crushed ice! Eating shoudl never be boring after this surgery because you sure don't automatically enjoy the food like you use to! Good luck and get creative!

I don't begin a lot of threads on here but had to share! I had a VSG on July 17th, 2012, with a starting weight of 321lbs. This weekend was my 18th wedding anniversay, I ran my first 5K (yes I said ran - no walking), and I met my goal weight of 175!!!!! I have lost 146 pounds and am SOOOOOOOO happy with myself and my future. For those of you who have not had the surgery, this is not an easy journey and it takes dedication as well as determination and planning! If you think this is the quick fix to your weight problems, you are wrong. This is a journey of learning to take accountability for what goes in your mouth, if you exercise or not, for your actions on a daily basis. I have gone from a size 26 to a comfortable size 8, I have lost almost 6 feet in inches from all parts of my body, and I have learned to live with my choices and learned to work the tool I have been given for the best results. That took a lot of educating myself and a lot of planning ahead to make sure i have the foods I need on hand at all times, even during the day when I am away from home. Before you have this surgery, make the decision to do it no matter what and don't look back!! This has been and continues to be, an awesome journey!!!

Puree chicken and top with marinera sauce and mozzarella cheese; refried black Beans and cheese with a dash of taco seasoning; greek yogurt with sugar free Jello powder; greek yogurt with PB2 powder and truvia, you can top with sugar free smuckers chocolate syrup; tuna salad; egg salad; These are some of the things that got me through!

1 1/2 years out and 135 pounds down and yes I feel MUCH different! I still don't recognize myself when I walk past a mirror and I'm still amazed when I put on a pair of 10 jeans and they fit!!! (I started at a size 26?) I never even knew I could feel this way because I have been big my entire life. I wish I had done this years ago! I do hang out and associate with most of the same people but some people have chosen to remove themselves from my circle and I think a lot of that is because of jealousy, insecurity??? I'm not really sure but a lot of people do treat you different and it doesn't always feel good. I do look at obese people different and I would be lying if I said I didn't. It is not with disdain or superiority though, it is with compassion and sincere concern. I know how I felt and I want to tell them they don't have to feel that way any more but I don't, because I know I would not have been receptive either. I sometimes get teary eyed just watching people as they struggle to walk or to do anything that should be easier! I do eat healthy because I choose to and I feel like this is my second chance at life! I do not look down on anyone who chooses otherwise though because we all have choices and I use to make the unhealthy ones myself. I also know I ate for a lot of reasons, none of which were to live!! I ate from all kinds of emotions and sometimes we just can't control that!! I am much different than I was: I exercise, I love my life, I hike, I can sit in a booth and cross my legs, I am happier, I am even more outgoing, and I LOVE TO SHOP FOR CLOTHES!!! I will never be the skinny b you were talking about because I truly think I even love more because I now love myself!!

I don't know much about those but you might want to try the Quest bars. You can get them at GNC or online and they are awsome. There are about 10 different flavors and one is White Chocolate Raspberry and delicious! It has 190 calories, 17 fiber, and 20 protein and is a fairly small bar at 2.12oz. My other favorites are chocolate chip cookie dough, mixed berry, and cinnamon roll. Also only 5 Net carbs

I don't know much about those but you might want to try the Quest bars. You can get them at GNC or online and they are awsome. There are about 10 different flavors and one is White Chocolate Raspberry and delicious! It has 190 calories, 17 fiber, and 20 protein and is a fairly small bar at 2.12oz. My other favorites are chocolate chip cookie dough, mixed berry, and cinnamon roll. Also only 5 Net carbs

Call your surgeons office and ask. Mine allows Milk of Magnesia occasionally and it works well. He now has me on stool softeners, (4 a day) and magnesium 250mg twice a day. That has helped tremendously! I know how bad it feels and it just never seemed to get better until the above regimen. I know people are going to say drink more water and eat fiber but even with that, I was having a really hard time. Good luck with it!

CONGRATULATIONS!! You look FANTASTIC!!!

I think the best advice is to start acting like you are post opinion just with more food... don't drink 20 minutes before to 30 minutes after you eat; if you go out to eat try some of the kids meals so you know what is available; try some pureed foods to see what you like such as tuna salad, chicken salad, etc...; start your vitamins and calcium now... that is one of the hardest to get use to taking something 5 times a day ( your surgeon may require different things but I have to take 3 calcium and 2 multivitamins a day and there has to be at least 2 hours between each to prevent the calcium from being blocked) These are just a few of the necessities! Good luck with all of it! I know you will be ready!

I'm so sorry you are hating this whole process... I wish I knew what to tell you to make you feel better. It kinda sounds like you really didn't want the eating to change. I hope that as you progress and learn that you will feel better! Being prepared ahead helps me tremendously! Good luck with everything and hang in there!

I'm 5'9" as well and when I started at 321, I thought it was a pipe dream to get under 200. Once I reached that goal, I thought maybe I could get to a BMI of 24 for ONCE in my life, which would be 168 pounds but I really didn't believe I could make it. Once I went under 190, I knew I could make my goal so I am headed there but I don't care how quickly. I am in a size 10 jeans for the first time ever and I love the way I feel and look so if I don't lose any more, I will be fine but I am going to shoot for that goal. I think it is a very personal thing and you need to shoot for what feels good for you. It also may change when you get closer! The greatest thing about this is it is YOUR journey, not anyone elses and we are all individuals! Good luck on whatever goal you set!

Congratulations!! You are on your way!

Wow! I have not run into that one before. I hope someone out there can help you.

What do you mean by intolerance? Is it the taste, diarrhea, constipation, nausea.......... I think it will help people answer your question.

I am 14 months out and no, I am not thirsty all the time. I have to keep my routine to remember to drink what I should. If you love drink as much as you say, you will be fine. It will be just learning to sip instead of guzzle. No you cannot drink when you eat. That will not work if you want to get the amount of protein and nutrition in that you are supposed to and no, I have never had food get stuck. It is easy to do once you get use to it. Some people on here are going to say that they drink when they eat and it doesn't hurt them.... All surgeons I have heard of say no to drinking while eating and they are the experts. If you aren't going to do what they tell you to do then don't go through with this. As far as the shakes and protein supplements, I can't help you there except to say that I used cocoa powder and regular packets of koolaid to flavor my shakes to cut the sweetness down. I don't know what you can do about the consistency though. Maybe someone else can help you on that. Since this freaked you out, you maybe should talk to her a couple more times and get some questions answered before the date of your surgery. There are a lot of changes to make and you have to be willing to make them. One thing I know is that if you keep doing what you are doing, you are going to get the same results. That is not harsh but a word of wisdom from experience! It took me years to get to the point of doing this and it was wasted time! I am sooooooooo happy now and I feel awesome. My life is no longer passing me by while I sit on the sidelines! Good luck with your decision!!