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I have a question for those of you who are 1+ year(s) out from your VSG and view your process as "successful". What is a day in the life of your sleeve after that initial year or so? What do you eat in an average day? I'm just 6 weeks out and getting a little discouraged with the limited foods I'm able to eat. Just wondering what you all are eating in the long run and what your tips are for better food choices for the long haul. Thanks in advance!

Thanks!

Way to go!!! You look great! I just hit 2 months post op too. Isn't it amazing the change that is possible in such a short amount of time??

Not really sure if this counts as a "before and after" since I'm only 8 weeks out, but here are my pics. The first the morning of surgery (9/12/13) and the other at 8 weeks after surgery (11/12/13). Sorry they are showing up all smooshed. You can click on them to see them full sized.

I agree, it sounds like you may still need it. Sometimes when I do get heartburn/reflux that is what it feels like. It's very uncomfortable.

Apparently there are 2 Thanksgiving challenge threads and I don't know which I've been posting in.... LOL. Anyway..... I'm stuck at 229 for 3 days now with only a couple weeks to go!!! Getting my butt to the gym today in hopes of shedding those last 4 pounds to goal!!!

I completely understand the "I've failed other diets before thinking". But this is NOT a diet. This is a complete change in your lifestyle, and I can tell you 100% that the sleeve will help you change your relationship with food. If you are an emotional eater (like I was), those things do not go away, but you are forced to find a new way to deal with your emotions. Overeating is no longer something that feels "good" at all. You will quickly find new ways to relieve stress. I know you can do it!!!

I am about 8 weeks post op now. I can say that I had pretty much all of your fears and concerns, and they got more intense as the surgery became more real and got closer. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe that I'm on the other side of it because it took so much to get there. I think that what you are feeling is perfectly normal. What I did when those concerns started weighing on me was to list (or go back to my list of..) all the reasons you want to do this. A lot of my reasons centered around my health and my quality of life with my 4 kiddos. I could honestly say that for those reasons, it was worth it, so I moved forward. The first couple of weeks were tough, emotionally mainly for me, but I pushed through and I am SO glad I did. No regrets. Good luck to you!!!!!

I know there are quite a few here from NE PA..... Updates everyone? How's it going???

I agree.... I was a little apprehensive at first, but I think I'm digging it.....

Yes, when I started, my BMI was 38, and I needed it to be 40 for insurance to cover it. I had to gain and maintain a few pounds in order to qualify. Luckily after the surgery, they fell right off. :-)

Ugh! I'm stuck at 229 for 3 days now with only a couple weeks to go!!! Getting my butt to the gym today in hopes of shedding those last 4 pounds to goal!!!

My daughter from time to time will say, "Mom! You look skinny!!!" That never gets old! And today at work someone told me I was "melting away" ....I think it was a compliment....lol.

I am 8 weeks post op and had a pretty complication-free recovery and was back to work after 2 weeks. I remember coming on here right before my surgery and kind of freaking myself out too, but I wouldn't change a thing!

I also meant to add that you'll find in the weeks after surgery that it becomes easier and easier to pass up the things you know you should not have. Not sure exactly why, but it's just a heck of a lot easier to say NO!!! now than it ever was before.

Everyone has offered great advice. I was DEFINITELY an emotional eater. I remember about 2 days into the pre-op liquid diet just sobbing because I didn't know how to deal with stress or emotions without food to go to. It was really scary and eye-opening. I'm 8 weeks post-op right now, and I can just share what I've done and what I've found. For me, I CANNOT give in to junk food. It's best for me just to "think" that it will bother my sleeve, rather than test the theory and find it to not be true. I avoid things altogether that I know will be bad for me. One, because I don't want to go back down that road after everything it took to get here, and two because I know if I give a little I will give myself more and more reasons to slip. I think you'll find too that your sleeve helps you in that you really change your relationship with food. Sure, there are times when my mouth says "YES!!! I want another bite"!!!! but I know that I will feel miserable if I take it, so I don't. You will learn that you can still enjoy eating, but it is different after. You eat because you have to (at least for me now I do) not so much because you are stressed or emotional, etc. My relationship with food has changed because (1) you are very limited in how much you can eat, (2) not everything goes down well....you will overeat or eat the wrong kinds of foods and learn that it doesn't feel "GOOD" anymore, (3) I think about EVERY SINGLE THING I put in my mouth now - instead of mindlessly eating as before, and (4) I stick to the Protein first rule. Honestly after I get my protein in, I'm usually full and overeating is not fun anymore.

Congrats! You're doing awesome!!!

I was looking for it yesterday and couldn't find it either......

I'm starting to the gym for the first time since my surgery this week, and I'm almost 8 weeks post-op. What does your typical post-op work out look like? I'm a little overwhelmed with where to start?

Thanks for the info. I have an appointment with the trainer next week, but she said in the meantime to come in and get started with some "light cardio". I did go to the gym pretty regularly after my first 2 daughters were born....but that was about a decade ago!!! lol.

Awesome! Good job!

Congrats!! That is awesome!!!

That is AWESOME!!! I'm almost 8 weeks post op and that last hurdle I need to get over is to get to the gym! I've had an appointment with the trainer and then cancelled. This definitely motivated me! Thanks!