MissErika

He basically said this was life changing and I need to make sure that I am prepared for it.

I had to fill out two pages. He asked me about my history and I got a mini lecture. I was in and out within 20 minutes.

I still think of food I can't have daily and I am almost 5 weeks out. However, I tell myself no and it's more of a little birdie annoying me and not someone screaming at me to eat. I have to make myself eat and I find eating boring now. You will have these foods again, whether they are in moderation or they are "modified" (a healthier pizza on a tortilla instead of one from pizza hut) Another thing I do is watch food documentaries and calculate the calories, fat, carbs, Protein, etc. I used to binge and found out that I did 4,000 calories, 7,500 sodium and 210 fat grams in an hour during a binge. I must say, that definitely turned me off to the idea of eating things I'm not supposed to have. You will learn to change your life for the better and soon it will be a habit to reach for fruit instead of a cake and to always eat lean protein first.

You worked so hard to get to where you are and you want to make your body look better, I understand that. If I were in your shoes, I would take advantage of it too. Will you still be able to have children (if you choose)? I wouldn't go through the plastic surgery if you are (I mean, what's the point?) Just research so you know EXACTLY what you are getting into. Good luck.

~*~My master "sweet" post~*~ SF/FF pudding (dark chocolate is good) <--- RICH CARBmaster yogurt (I got pumpkin pie but there's many flavors) - 60 cal, 1.5 fat, 4 carb, 3 sugar, 9 Protein. Dannon light & fit yogurt diabetic friendly (strawberries and cream) - 45 cal, 3 carbs, 5 protein (I threw out box, don't remember fat but I know it's very low) SF popsicles Decaf coffee (surgeons approval) with Torani SF syrups and FF/SF cool whip (pumpkin or caramel!!) Crystal lite mixed in with crushed ice and berries (its like an icee or snowcone!) Diet snapple peach tea curbs sugar cravings for me too! Fresh fruit. You can never beat fresh fruit (extra sweet cravings? add cool whip to berries) IF YOU ARE DOING YOGURT OR CRYSTAL LITE, ALWAYS ADD Protein Powder TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER! I adore carb master yogurt... I had them when I did atkins before. Also you can look up Quest bars too.

I feel ya....I've been caffeine free but got crystal lite and didn't realize it had caffeine (it says 98% caffeine free) and I was wondering why it gave me energy... LOL But soon your body will adapt!

I was 3 weeks late for my period because I was stressed out! Then as I got a date, I was even more stressed out because I didn't want to have my period at the hospital LOL. So yeah, surgery makes hormones go crazy especially with PCOS. I have that as well, don't worry! My periods were also "normal" majority of the time.

I found out I had high blood pressure at my first consultation. She said I had hypertension, and every follow up, it was the same high number staring at me. I was not on medication for blood pressure but I was on hydrochlorothiazide for Water retention. She kept me on the medication and I am still on it, everyday, at one month post op. I didn't have any extra steps but instead they watched it and I probably got 3 or 4 EKGs in the entire process (3 months - I was self pay) all of my EKG's were normal but if they come back abnormal it may cause the surgery to be post-poned. This may not be much of a help but I wanted to give my experience! Good luck!

Chili! It's one of my favorite meals and it's so simple and delicious but it gives me indigestion even with PPI's. I had it 3 times and I always regret it LOL. But I hope I can tolerate it before it gets colder, or else I'll be very sad.

Hi there. I lost 15 pounds in 1 week with optifast shakes 5x a day and only water, SF jello and SF popsicles.

Yes, you can put flavorless Protein powder in your drinks. My friend does that in her coffee when she wants a treat and she will be getting SOMETHING good out of it. heh. (don't drink coffee yet unless your surgeon clears you) You could also try different flavors of Protein shakes. Each consistency is different and you can get free samples or buy individual servings at a time so you don't waste your money buying in bulk. When you get about 2 weeks out and/or your surgeon clears you for thicker liquids you can try smoothies with almond milk unsweetened. You can also have yogurt. Some have higher protein without the extra cals/carbs/etc. tip: recently I got crystal lite lemonade and I crushed ice in my magic bullet (or any blender, etc) then poured crystal lite in it. I added a strawberry (which you can't do yet) but it's such a treat even without the berry. It's like a slushee or a snow cone. It's yummy. :3

Are you taking an acid reducer daily to prevent acid reflux?

I will be completely honest. RNY is a great surgery. I myself was hoping to do it but I was self pay and just couldn't afford it. It was almost double the price. My nurse said she had RNY patients lose hardly anything compared to sleeve and vice versa. AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU ARE THE "DRIVER" AND YOU WILL CONTROL HOW MUCH YOU LOSE. *To an extent. Obviously your body will retain fluids, hormone changes and some weeks you just stall no matter how hard you try. But if you eat clean, do what you are supposed to and work out you will see good results regardless of which surgery you decide to do. I am not denying people lose weight faster than others. Anyway. Because you only have 85 pounds to lose and you didn't list any problems (diabetes, etc) I would say the sleeve is a great for you. You can choose to do RNY if you prefer, it's your decision, but the sleeve has done wonders for so many people, including myself. I started at 364 and I hit the 50 pound loss mark today after 5 weeks (1 week pre-op included) and I even gained 10 pounds of gas after surgery that took 4 days to lose, LOL. Also, you can have the sleeve revised to a bypass if it doesn't work for you. You don't want to "Settle" when it comes to your body and what you want. This is a major operation and it's life changing. There are also a lot of risks involved with all of the surgeries available. Be passionate about your decision and research a lot. Be aware of risks, the goods, the bads and the uglys. I will admit - I did settle for the sleeve but after awhile of doing more research and getting involved, I was very happy that I chose this instead of RNY.

Everybody is different. I was in a lot of pain and struggled getting liquids down. I just did not want them and I rather lay in bed all day. Then the bed got uncomfortable and I cried getting to the chair and I wanted to go home so I walked constantly even when I didn't want to. You must walk walk walk because it is the key to a faster recovery. It also relieves the gas you will have from the surgery. Drink lots of water and don't be afraid to ask for help. The nurses are there for you. Your family must know that you will be tired, most likely dehydrated and you will need rest. You will be in pain, or at least sore. You may be moody, you may have buyer's remorse temporarily but as your weight gets down and you are able to eat food again it will go away (most of the time) and finally... your family must be there to give you the support you need. Let them know that you will need their help and that you love them and you will be an "active mom" again. It really isn't as bad as it sounds. VSG is a great tool and I already lost 50 pounds in 5 weeks (including pre-op liquid diet) and I feel great. Think of that. Think of running with your family, going to the park all the time, not being tired in the middle of the day. Those thoughts will keep you going. Good luck tomorrow and congratulations on taking the first step to a happier, healthier life!

Hi there! I had my surgery on August 15th and so far I have had a complication free, speedy and very lucky recovery. I have lost 47 pounds including a one week pre-op which I am pretty excited for! Well I have an interesting story (I'll make it short, I promise) that I want to share with you. [below talks about lots of junk food - don't read if you are sensitive to that kinda thing, heh] Before getting the gastric sleeve I was an emotional eater. I binged multiple times a week and the only person who knows is my mom and a good friend of mine. Food was my best friend. I used to eat huge quantities, well over 10,000 calories at a time and end my day with a big thing of ice-cream. I still get disgusted thinking about eating everything that I did. And I did this multiple times a week for years. Anyway~ Besides deep fried cheesy foods, sweets was my number one go-to food. You know those, "Oops, we baked too much!" 50% off carts they have at super markets? Yeah, I attacked that. Sometimes getting two dozen donuts, 24 count Cookies, etc that would sit in my stomach after a day and a half (not including all the chips, Pasta, cheese sticks, hot pockets, etc I would eat prior) I was a wreck. [end junk food] Anyway, now that I had the sleeve I have had no cravings other than fresh fruit. I am allowed SF/FF pudding (I got dark chocolate, my favorite) and I took one bite and it was far too rich! It went down smoothly and I had no problems but it was just disgusting. Pre-surgery the richer the better! But no, I just can't tolerate it now. I tried again a week later (the other day) and took one small spoon. Nope, not happening. I just don't want it and I gave it to my mother and said she can eat them. ISN'T IT CRAZY HOW MUCH YOU CAN CHANGE AFTER SURGERY? This super-super-sweet girl doesn't like sweets! I get great satisfaction by adding a strawberry to my crystal lite lemonade or eating two small blackberries but nothing more. I think this is a big fat NSV!!!!!!!! Does anyone have a story similar to mine?

Can you buy one of each and try them before buying all at once? That way you don't waste your money.

Welcome!! I think it's great that you are "rebooting your system" and finding a community for support. That is the KEY to a successful maintenance. Good luck with your "new journey" and finding your goal weight!

Another vote for tilapia! I just had it tonight for the first time since my operation and I actually liked it. I sprayed a little "I can't believe it's not butter" and used cumin and garlic powder. It went on the foreman grill and was on my plate in less than 5 minutes (from frozen) and I actually really enjoyed it. I HATED fish pre-op so I was shocked. I am taking the other half to work tomorrow so I highly recommend you trying it.

I actually loved the chocolate optifast shakes. I hated the other two and tried my best to avoid them. But yes, they are pretty sweet which was great for me. It tasted like an off-brand chocolate milk with minor after taste.

Snufflegus gave great suggestions about eating out but I am here to discuss loose skin. I am 21 and I started out well over 300 pounds. I have lost 100 pounds before in my life and had loose skin after that. People always preach, "Oh you're so young, it will snap back!" But I have been very heavy my entire life and I have terrible, dry skin from multiple endocrine issues. So yeah, the loose skin definitely turned me off to the idea of WLS because it's a lot faster than normal dieting. But someone said, "Erika you may not look good in a bikini but you will look smokin hot in a good pair of jeans and fitted top!" That motivated me. We may not look the best naked but we would look AMAZING out in public in normal clothes! Our confidence will be through the roof and our HEALTH WILL BE GREAT! No medications, no high blood pressure and be able to have a fun and active life. And I would take that with saggy skin anyday. Plus I could just chop it off/get a lift later on in life. Heh. So try not to be too upset by the skin and as for dating - there are many loving and understanding people out there that won't be bothered by it. And food is all of our "best friends". Fast, cheap and convenient and always there for us through the tears, boredom, late night TV and basically whatever emotions we have. But best friends try to bring you up, not down. I'm happy that you are beginning to realize this and changing your life. Good luck with everything!

Honestly those low carb recipes are fabulous for parties, holidays or just get togethers. They are not meant to be used every single day. Each one is 4 carbs which you must contribute into your intake (or 8 if you have two) but what you put in them is what's important and will be your "make it or break it". If you are using them to kick off cravings or cooking something up the whole family can enjoy then it's okay as long as you fill them with lots of lean protein that will keep you full for hours! But as a suggestion...I wouldn't use them if you are early on in your journey (unless the "chicken chimichangas" "tacos salad" and "pizza" wontons) keep you from eating the real thing.

Congratulations and happy birthday!

I had that same problem with my family and friends. They did NOT want to hear my "negative" thoughts about the surgery. When really, how is it negative? In any major surgery there is a risk of death. It may be extremely rare but it's still a risk. And yes, the most unlikely people do tend to be the ones that care the most. I think that's because the people who love you the most may be in denial. Or I could just be rambling. I had all of those thoughts about my surgery too. I was scared of waking up in the middle of it, or with a breathing tube in, or a leak but funny enough I just couldn't stop smiling the day of surgery. I wanted to get it over with because I waited too long and I was excited. Everyone came to speak with me before sending me to the OR and I got a lot of reassurance and support from my team. Also, they gave me a "alcoholic drink" before surgery. I was sooo relaxed in that OR I am pretty sure I was slurring and was like, "Lets do this!!!" They don't want you to panic or be afraid, though it's expected. I believe all hospitals give you that relaxer but I could be wrong. Also, think of the future. Be aware of the risks but imagine how much healthier you will be. Imagine how much happier you will be. Imagine you running marathons and looking good in jeans and not being tired all day. And yes, it is very understanding that you are using this to re-evaluate who is in your life. I did the same thing.

Prune juice helped me when other laxatives didn't. I only needed half a cup at room temperature!

Maybe these two or three bites are carbs or "bad" food that is used as a treat.