SmilinNC

my trainer recommends oatmeal or other slow digesting carbs. I always eat oatmeal before I work out with her and it has made a difference. If I don't I tend to have severe blood sugar drops and almost pass out. If I eat Protein before I just feel more tired. I always drink a Protein Shake right after our workouts.

I have heard that the New Whey shots are, despite the name, mostly collagen Protein which humans have a lot of trouble actually absorbing and using.
I haven't heard of Gelatein but again I would check the ingredients to make sure that it is mostly whey protein (preferably isolate rather than concentrate).
I have used the Unjury chicken Soup a lot and I love it. I don't do more than one serving per day because of the high sodium levels.

But it is coming off..slow and steady wins the race.

Hello Sleever People!
I had my surgery January 25, 2010 with Dr. Aceves in Mexico and have never once looked back. I was on this board pretty much 24/7 pre-op and for a long time post op and one of the things that I desperately wished for more of was feedback from people that were "long term" sleevers. We seem to be few and far between and I swore I would provide regular updates... fail!!! And I apologize to any of you that, like me, wish for more of the "big picture" - no pun intended! It's true that we simply get on with life after surgery and before we know it, life has been blowing by and suddenly it's been some fantastic years gone by - you'll see, trust me!
So, the long and short of my sleeve experience has been incredible – there truly are no words to describe one of the absolute best decisions I’ve ever made for myself. I started at 254 and lost exactly 100 pounds well before the end of the year. I ate low carb and drank Protein Shakes forever it seemed. About a year and change after surgery, after maintaining a size 4/6 154# for months, I started gaining – eeekk!!! – I attributed this primarily to nursing school (which I started the same week of my vsg and have since finished and am now working in an ER – whole nuther story!) and grazing all day. Cashews are the devils work, btw!! I was scared and worried but stopped gaining after slowly putting back on 20 pounds. I’ve lost five of that since, am now in a size 8/10 and have been holding there for some time. I truly eat what I want within reason. I’m in a good place mentally and physically. I have been at this weight for over a year now.
I 100% BELIEVE THAT EXERCISE IS CRUCIAL TO YOUR SUCCESS LONG TERM!!!!! So commit to it, the sleeve, while a fantastic tool, WILL NOT solve all of your problems if you aren’t prepared to take care of yourself and having the sleeve makes it easy!! Like any “diet” or whatever, the long term is the trick; you will be able to eat A LOT more as time goes on yet nothing like before. You WILL be able to eat enough and often enough to gain weight if you are not aware. But it’s different. I would have easily gained that 100# back by now, that I know.
So, for me, to compensate for eating so-so, I bicycle competitively and long-distance; average 50 miles every other day at about 19mph. I have a group that I ride with but do it often on my own too. Burns a gajillion calories.
I guess the bottom line is that your life is going to be absolutely incredible post-op BUT, you will always have to be aware of what’s going in and out. The story about the woman who gained all her weight back cuz she would order an xl pizza and work on it all day? I can see that!! Yikes! But, you know what? Don’t buy the stupid pizza!! Easy!!
I wish you all the very best and please feel free to contact me to vent, ask questions, whatever, I’m happy to help and happy to be here for you.
Carol

Can somebody please tell me why I have to do two weeks liquid diet and some people get to do 1 week or even just three days

Bought premade premier chocolate shakes 30 gms each in 11 ounces. Went down much easier than anything else.

I love these posts! I am feasting on hearing all the success stories! (Cuz you know I aint feasting on anything else!
Congrats and enjoy your trip!

It's been a year this week. I am headed to the beach. It's also my husband and my 5 year anniversary. My surgon never set a goal and my personal goal was based on bmi. I haven't technically hit reached that personal numbers goal yet but here are some goals I have met:
I can now run 20 minutes comfortably without walking so I jog 40 mins 5-6 days a week. Couldn't even shuffle quickly forward (what jogging used to look like) for 3 minutes pre surgery without gasping like a fish out of Water.< /p>
I had to buy all new clothes. All new. Bras undies and shoes too!
I sleep naked and walk around naked IN FRONT of my husband. I used to be too ashamed and would change clothes quickly hiding in the closet. Extra details probably belong in the ladies forum but you can imagine there have been other improvements...
No more fat girl waddle.
I feel pretty. Out and out pretty. Men smile at me. People are nicer. That goal is harder to explain but it impacts every facet of my life.
I have low blood pressure.
I am no longer pre diabetic.
I don't snore any more.
I am not dreading the bathing suit part of the beach. Not wearing a two piece, but even at 19 I wasn't a two piece kinda girl.
Goal is a Fluid concept. Would do this sleeve again every time.

My baby walked B-)

I'm not having surgery until July. However, I have a question about Migraines. Was anyone that has had the sleeve surgery a Migraine sufferer? How did the pre-op and post-op dieting affect your migraines? My migraines are fairly severe and can lead to hours of vomiting and dehydration. I'm worried the drastic change in quantity/way of eating will cause migraines and I don't want to be throwing up from a migraine after surgery.
Thanks!

That's fab to hear! I must say I was a little worried. Well done what an achievement :-

Once a month I go to the 2nd hand stores and get a few thing. You will actually only wear them for a month. save you money and gift cards for when your at your goal weight. I have gone from 18/20 to 10/12 in four months. I can't wait to go into all the stores my friends shop at and get cute clothes!

Try using the Liberator wedge/ramp combo... that is awesome!! Makes everything much easier. They have a 25% off sale using the code LOVEUSA. I recently got this for us and I love it. No more being smooshed and it so much easier to try different things and being easier on your joints.

Well congrats AND Happy Bday!!

Wow, tempus fugit! A year ago today, I went into surgery weighing 284 lbs. Today, I weigh 195 lbs for total of 89 Lbs lost...SO FAR. My original goal was 140 pounds. While I am still headed in that direction, well see what the future brings. Wile I am very happy with my weightloss to date, I thought I would be further along. Oh, I'm not ungrateful, just anxious. I know that I have made some food choices that I shouldn't have, but I try to shake it off, and stay on task. Some days are better than others. I'm still forcing myself to drink lots of Water. I can say I have gotten much better!
Along with the weightloss, I have gone from wearing a size 24 to a size 14. One day I just stared at a dress in my closet, amazed that it was really mine...in that size! I actually tried on a dress in a size 12, and it fit. Wow. A few other victories....
I CAN NOW:
-shop off the rack, on the main level, not downstairs...behind housewares
-cross my legs without cutting off my circulation
-share a seat on my commuter train without fear of spilling over the center
-run up stairs without gasping for air
-Go shopping with a friend
-tuck my shirt in
-wrap a bath towel around my body
-WEAR LILLY PULITZER....HOORAY!
-sit on furniture without fear of crashing to the floor
***drumroll, please*** I WEIGH LESS THAN MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!!!!
here are a few photos to show my progress thus far. I can't wait to come back in a few months to share my goal photos.
Thank you
Darlene

I think part of that issue is if you go between the mobile ap & the laptop version you can't see peoples trackers & footers.
So it may be in the signature but only the desktop ppl can see it. I know I like the desktop version better but use mobile more...
allons-y

Hi! I am vegetarian and am having my surgery on the 15th. Anyone have ideas for vegetarian Protein food in beginning of post op? Thanks

ok back to square one with you missy.. get back on the Protein shakes...
get off of the slider foods... you have control of this situation.. no matter how much stress you have.. I have had so much stress in the beginning... my son was killed on the day of my surgery.. my mom died 5mo before that.. in jan after wt loss they found some masses in my legs.. had them removed.. they thought they were cancer.. but they were not thank goodness. with all this going on.. not one time did I fall off the wagon... we have control of our lives.. we cannot blame this on anything but ourselves.. you have to take responsibility of your actions.. you can do this.. you did it before.. you can do it again.. get back on the protein shakes.. get all the crap food out of the house.. I even managed to lose 4lbs on a cruise no less.. if I can make it thru this.. you can too.. im on my way to wonderful things.. im 3/4 of the way there... I did it by making smart choices.. do I eat things im not suppose to? once in a great while I treat myself.. but I dont let it get out of hand.. I stop.. I dont want to go back to the title of being Obese.. not one I enjoyed at all.. im not longer the fat girl anymore..and never never will I go back to that.. my life means much more to me now... im healthy and I look great now.. never have I ever been able to tell myself that.. I have very low self esteem.. low.. never thought much of myself... but now I have that chance.. a do over if you will.. im not screwing this up... I love my life now.. you will too if you just get back on track.. dont let food rule you.. you rule your life..not food.. re direct.. get back on track.. get to the gym.. call a friend.. come on here to chat we will get you back on track.. if I can do this.. so can you.. best of luck to you

I am seven weeks out today. The good? I've lost weight and inches and I feel in control. This is the first time that I have ever made the commitment to really lose weight and been "forced" to stick with it. I've been blessed with the absence of hunger 95% of the time so that makes things SO much easier. Even through the bad, I know that I have no choice but to stick to my plan because of the surgical removal of my stomach. Because of that, I am more apt to stay on track and make good choices.
The bad? I am a Water drinker. Not being able to throw back a 20oz bottle of Water in a minute is killing me in this heat and with the exercise I like to do. I suggest you get into the habit NOW of sipping water. Until you have this surgery, you have no idea how difficult it is, it's truly impossible to describe.
It's also been very difficult to slow down and take teeny bites. Get used to that now as well. I thought the idea of buying baby utensils was ridiculous, but it works. I haven't bought a sippy cup nor will I, but the little forks and spoons are fantastic.
Stalls suck donkey butt, but keep in mind that although they will happen sooner than you would like and last longer than they should, they will pass. I weigh myself every day, several times a day but I do not beat myself up about the number on the scale. If you know you will, put the scale away. It will only cause heartache and frustration.
This was the best choice of my life (besides my kids) and I do wish I had done it sooner. My life will never be what it was again, but that said, that wasn't exactly a healthy life, so I am not missing out on anything.
Good luck to you!

I was talking to my hubby about what to expect immediately after post op.....its just the 2 of us.....I told him the first week or two post op he'd be on his own for meals, while I was on Clear liquids. He thought I was joking.
He's a wonderful guy, but nurturing (or cooking) doesn't come easily for him. As long as he knows what to expect ahead of time, he's fine....I figure with planning I could have some meals in the freezer for him to nuke......I can't imagine cooking while being sore and on Clear Liquids.
How did you handle meals for your significant other/family immediately post-op?
Thanks!

As a hair stylist--Nioxin is one of the best systems out there for thinning hair. In a nutshell nioxin was designed to really clear out all clogged hair follicles that get clogged due to various reasons. In a sense it will help grow your hair back faster, as it keeps all impurities out of the way. That being said, it is a CLEANSER. It will strip out all oils, the good along with the bad. So if you choose to use the system- use the whole system!
If you choose just to use some of the products I would say alternate the usage. Or your hair will feel dry as well.
Also, about the formula changing- most professional products sold "over the counter" so to say or at grocery stores etc... are either "watered down" or the formula has been changed to be sold to the public, or is even old expired product that unfortunately some cheapskates get their hands on and sell for double the price. Now this is not the case for all beauty stores, but more often than not this is the case.
If I can make a recommendation of where the public can purchase the product, go to a local beauty salon (even places like Great Clips, and Ulta, or any Regis chain, for men Sport clips will have it) and buy from the professionals themselves - for little to no price difference. They have access to all the products you could ever need (and most if the time straight from the distributors) that is fresh and accurately labeled.
As someone that's been sleeved-
I am definitely loosing a lot of hair right now, but I choose to not use nioxin. As I still have a lot of hair and didn't want to dry out what was still relatively healthy.
Good luck to all my fellow sleepers, hope this helps..
(Ps. Excuse all the grammatical errors, as it was typed carefully from my iPhone.)

Any advise for a single mom after the surgery? I have 3 kids with two of them under 4. My oldest is 18 so he can help me some, but with school and his job he's very busy. I know it's going to be hard for the first month, but I know it's the best thing I can do for myself and my kids. Is it hard to do anything after the surgery? I'm I going to have issues with my mommy chores???

Thank you! I just want to let everyone who is going to have it done or who has had it done know that the end result is so worth it. It's not a piece of cake it's one of the hardest things I ever had to do but I can now say that food does not control my life, I control food, and that's a great feeling!

Well I decided to put some pics up here this is after 60lbs lost...I was 270 and on March 27 I had my surgery....now today July 6 I weigh 210...I am proud of my progress and would like others to stay motivated!!!!

SliminNC your welcome and cannot wait to hear your story hand in there. My 5day post op diet all liquid was the hardest but very doable!