Bridget312001

After looking into the chemical process of HOW our bodies loose weight I can tell you its a complicated series of events. Your body needs time to adjust between dropping pounds. It's all very normal and very much needed. Track your intake, begin exercising when you doc gives you the all clear and you will loose. Stair steps of loss is what you want.

My GP confessed to having Lap Band Surgery when I first saw her after my VSG.

As for Vitamin and mineral deficits after having a VSG, I had low Vitamin B, D and severe anemia BEFORE I had my sleeve surgery. I was so tired all the time, I thought I had a serious underlying illness that hadnt been diagnosed.. Feeling so much better now that im taking Iron and vitamin supplements and these levels are being monitored by my VSG nutritionist and doc.

I believe there are a hell of a lot of the general public who have severe deficiencies in their vitamin/minerals who are never checked by their regular doctor. Apparently checking for vitamin deficiencies in blood isnt standard (at least at my regular doctors office). Ironically now that I am a "risk" for deficiencies I have been able to regulate and correct deficiencies I have had for many many years.

It's funny how I used to avoid the weight scale at all costs, now I can't stay off it.

Sleeved April 8 2013, down 53 lbs.

A fellow bariatric surgery friend bought me a pair of size 10 jeans for my birthday and they bloody well fit me. What a fantastic birthday gift!

Cindy, try using a small pickle fork when you eat. I found it works great for keeping your bite sizes small.

Keep moving, keep drinking 60+ oz Water a day and keep track of your caloric intake. Your body is going through some highly complex changes and you need to be patient.

My hair has been falling out too. Doc said not to panic, it would grow back.I'd be a happy bunny if I only the grey ones fell out, oh, and my leg hair can go too. :-)

My doc says i can't have ibuprofen anymore so what to do for cramps?

Tylenol was recommended by my doc for general aches and pains. No more ibuprofen, it can make your stomach bleed.

There are sooo many factors involved in how much weight you loose. Big losers are generally larger and burn more calories to maintain body functions, metabolism, age..the list goes on and on in how fast we all loose weight. If you keep your calories at 1000 or a little less a day, and EXERCISE you WILL loose weight.

It was like someone flipped a switch and I went from never hungry to hungry all the time the last couple of weeks. I don't suffer from reflux, but I may try taking some Prilosec just to see if I'm misinterpreting these gurgling hungry feelings.

I was also sleeved on April 8th and have lost about the same amount as you (if I include my pre-op diet). 45lbs in 11 weeks is pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

This is the first month I've felt SO incredibly hungry a few days before and during my period. It does help to exercise, but Fiber One 90 calorie chocolate chip Cookies help too.

JProx is right, we were all there. I was thinking my last "what if" as they gave me the anesthesia before surgery..

Now I am 9 weeks out and couldn't be happier with how I feel and look.

. I did look around at new equipment, but there are always people selling these things used for really cheap. I tried a couple of stores that specialize in used exercise equipment but they were almost as expensive as new.

Can anyone give me any tips on buying a used elliptical? Specifically what bells and whistles to look for, good and bad brands, etc. I think $1000 would be close to my budget... Hope that can get something decent. Thanks.

I bought my Nordik Track from Craigslist. Make sure you have plenty of programs available to change it up.

I revised from band to sleeve (all-in- one) on April 18 and I'm down 42 unbelievable pounds and while I'm moving around a lot more, a goal of mine is to establish a realistic exercise schedule, too.

I went on Craigslist and found a good quality elliptical machine to put in the garage. No expensive gym membership, no hassle of taking time out of my day to get ready and go to and from the gym, and no one cares if I wear my jammies or no bra when i exercise.

I love chicken too and find it very hard to eat at eight weeks out. My boss was sleeved a year and a half ago and still has a hard time eating it. I have found that if the rotisserie chicken from costco is a little easier to digest and also very slow cooked chicken casserole with lots of liquid in small portions is tolerable. Its so weird because I can eat steak, fish, pork, shrimp and crab with absolutely no problem.Fingers crossed it gets better as we progress!

I so agree. Of course I'm crying like a baby. People think this is an easy or doable journey with or without surgery. It's not. I have a hard time with mean people. Gotta butch up.

Just remember that this trainer is an ignoramus that has no clue about what she is talking about. She would better serve her customers at the gym by focusing on their training than talking trash.

You are one of the few brave souls that has taken the huge, conscious step to feel and look better. You have not taken the path of sitting in the shadows feeling ashamed and defeated. You my dear are a powerful woman. Just remember that.

Sleeved 04/08/13 and down 39lbs (including pre-surgery diet - I count this because its valid weight loss and was achieved through sheer willpower).

I bought myself a spanky new pair of size 12 jeans last weekend and felt so happy that i could not only get them up my legs but buttoned up too without effort. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have been given the gift of this amazing sleeve. This is the best I have felt in a very long time. Is there homework to do? Of course! I track my calories, exercise and drink Water till i feel like Im floating. Hunger comes and goes. Sometimes I feel like a bottomless pit and don't seem to be able to fill the void (head hunger??), sometimes I completely forget about eating if I am busy. Bottom line is I honor my sleeve and at the end of the day appreciate that it will not let me stray too far from striving to my goal.

Unflavored Unjury protien is good to add to just about any drink, Soup or sauce under 140 degrees. Their chicken soup is pretty awesome too.

Ice has been my friend since day one of surgery. Shaved ice with liquid Crystal Light is yummy.

Take a deep breath and relax. You are doing fine. Remember your stomach just underwent a major surgery and is pretty swollen and is trying to heal. Great advice from the other posters above. Just remember this too shall pass and every day you will feel better and better. X

Pre-surgery weight (before two week low carb diet) - 214

Surgery date 4-8-13

Starting weight 201

Current weight 183

Very happy with my weight loss. I feel like a new woman! It has ALWAYS been a matter of starving myself to loose weight only to cave to extreme hunger pains and gain it all back plus some. Slow and steady weight loss is fine (and healthy). I am six weeks out and had no stalls. Getting between 600-700 cals per day. Definitely found working out on my elliptical helped move the scale when my weight loss was getting super slow. My nutritionist is happy and so am I!

Id pull back a little and stick with very liquid cream of wheat and very well cooked soft veg and meats. I am four weeks out and chicken hurts even now. Slow down and cherish that little pouch. You will want to challenge it a little as you progress in later weeks but right now if you cant mush it with a fork then you don't need it.

My sense of taste and smell have totally changed. I can smell yucky stuff from a mile away, this week mushrooms smell like horse manure and the smell of raw meat makes me want to gag. I think most importantly I have discovered that I am stubborn when it comes to something I want, no matter what others may say. After all the fuss and dogged determination to have the sleeve, I have done something for myself that is sane, healthy and relevant.

Fantastic that your recovery is so easy! My recovery was quick and would have been completely painless if I had had an On-Q Pump (back in jeans, driving on the weekend after having surgery on the Monday before). We are the lucky ones who had it relatively easy. Follow your doctors orders, drink drink drink your fluids and remember walking is important, but so is resting and allowing your body to heal.