Thick'n'Thin

First, I'm sorry some are struggling through right now. I pray you feel better soon!
First week check up today (10 days post op). I'm down 8 lbs post post. Feeling awesome. Getting my Water and Protein in. I asked about eating crab (it's all I can think about!) and the nut moved me on to soft foods! I had chili at Wendy's as my first meal. I finished half a small and it was very satisfying!
I will be revising my weight loss goals as well, as the nut evaluated my lean body mass at 130lbs (I'm 5'6") so 162.5 seems like a reasonable goal (25% body fat). I think I'll round it down to 160lbs (instead of 154, my current goal) and have a couple pounds wiggle room.
Doc said I can remove the surgical glue. I'm so pleased with how my incisions are healing! Doc cleared me for basically whatever I want/need.
ME: Can I work out and lift weights?
Doc: Sure!
ME: Can I go back to work?
Doc: Sure! When would you like to go back?
ME: All done the blood thinner shots doc?
Doc:Yep!
I guess tomorrow will be a down day though, school is canceled on account of snow. I'm not walking outside or driving to the gym I think...unless I can get some crab legs while I am out!

First, welcome aboard! Dr. Neff is the best, I just got home from my first post op visit with him.
As for quitting smoking, I know it's hard, I quit myself in 2007. I heard a statistic that the average person tries to quit seven times before they succeed. I would suggest making a pros and cons list to continuing to smoke. I would look at all the costs: health, money, etc to quitting. Then I would resolve myself to stop on the basis of these considerations alone.
You can choose to not smoke. It's so important for your surgery, definitely for your recovery, and even your long term life. You don't have a lot of time. You need to dig deep and do this! Cold turkey if you must. You can do it, it is just difficult. Let 2014 be the year you change your health in two ways!

Hey all, I'm scheduled for January 27th with Dr Neff at Kennedy in Stratford...super excited!!

HW 347
SW 327
CW 298
I did hit my goal to be under 300 by 1/1/14. I did my measurements. Since 12/16/13 ive lost 14.5 inches all over and 29 lbs.

Here are links to several VSG diets from well-respected bariatric surgeons, hospitals, and clinics around the world. I didn't make this list for the purpose of "diet shopping". It is remarkable how similar the advice is in most of these lists. We all know it:
Protein first Lots of Protein (I think the lowest plan here calls for 50 grams) Don't drink with meals Drink 8+ glasses of Water a day If your surgeon's plan is not on this list already and it's published online, leave the link as a reply and I'll add it. Maybe we can get this thread added to the stickies. Auckland Weight Loss Surgery (New Zealand)
Baker Bariatrics
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Columbia University
Cornell
Goodnight Surgical
HealthPoint(New Zealand)
Highland Hospital, Rochester NY
Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery
Johns Hopkins (diet progression first month post-op)
Johns Hopkins (Ongoing dietary guidelines)
Johns Hopkins (additional info)
Kaiser
London Bariatric Group (UK)
London Obesity Clinic (UK)
Miami HOPE Center
Murfressboro Surgical Specialists
North London Obesity Surgery Services (UK)
Northwest Obesity Center
Peachtree Bariatrics
Pinnacle Health
St. George Obesity Surgery (Australia)
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (Canada)
University of Missouri
Upper Gastro Intestinal Surgery (Dr. Talbot, Australia)
Virginia Hospital Center
Walter Reed - Booklet or Powerpoint

I had Decaf coffee and sex today. Counted one as liquids and the other as exercise, and my sleeve is a-ok.

Remember Protein can be converted into glucose in the bloodstream. Too much Protein will effect your blood sugars. High blood sugars can lead to excess insulin in the bloodstream which will stimulate hunger even more. Therefore there is an optimal amount of protein the body needs rather than more is better. Not an easy thing to work with really. This will freak people out.... Rather than adding more protein if you are burning up a ton of calories exercising, add fat instead. Carbs = death for diabetics.
Your workout routine is not as needful as protein as you might think. Heavy power/body lifting would require more protein.
I also have a low opinion of nutritionists.
Read Good Calories, Bad Calories 3x, read it one last time, take notes, memorize it and you will know 1000X more than almost any nutritionist on the planet for fat loss.

As far as the alligator skin, I have Patches of that happening right now too. I attribute mine to dry heat and eating such a low fat diet. I actually upped my fat intake (I was getting a skimp 5-10 grams a day). I could be wrong though.

Pre-diet and 3 weeks post sleeve I am down 42 pounds. I cannot get enough of my husband. The past few years sex has not been as pleasurable for me because of the weight i carried in my midsection. Now that the weight is falling off I am finding that I achieve orgasm more than I have in years and I love it. I hope more women will have this experience. It has brought my husband and I closer and I feel so beautiful when he looks at me.

AMAZING!! Congratulations to you!!! WONDERLAND is a lovely place to be.
I lost 100.2 pounds over 2013. I gained the ability to work out for hours and not be in (the bad kind of) pain the next day. I can shop in any store I please and can buy clothes that make me look my age instead of my great granny's age. I can go to my kids' schools and am no longer the really superly morbidly obese fat mom. I loved life before but I now have so much more life I can live, not just in time, but in actual ability to go out there and do whatever the hell I want and I am THRILLED.
THRILLED.

Okay...January 1, 2013 I weighed 345 lbs.
Now January 1, 2014 I am 198 lbs
That's a total of 147 lbs last year, wow!!!!!!!
Before that I would not even had been able to lose 7 of those on my own....
How much did you lighten this world up in 2013? What makes you grateful for your WLS?
Mine is that I can walk for hours. Hold my granddaughter close to my chest. Buy clothes at a regular store. And best of all no one knows who the hell I am when I pass them on the street, I no longer stand out in public!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HW 334
SW 310
CW 305
Off all three diabetes medications including insulin.
Off three blood pressure medications and two other medications.
Number of pills take per day reduced by 60%. This was my straw that broke the camels back. When I put all of my medications in a Walmart bag the bag burst from how many there were. That was my wake up death is knocking and I need to do this WLS. Don't get me wrong, cosmetic weight loss for looks and getting into normal clothes will be nice but reduction in health issues were the #1 goal for me.....and it is working already this early on my journey.

Wishing this entire group a very Happy New Year...2014 is OUR year...no more broken resolutions! We are going to do it!

Happy New Year my beautiful, supportive and hard-working December sleevers!!! The world is a better place with all of you in it! I look forward to the months ahead and sharing our successes and hurdles together. May 2014 bring a world of possibilities to us all. God bless and be safe tonight!!!

If you search the forum you'll this topic is one of the most common on the site, the "week three stall". You are fine. You're body is taking stock of itself after all that weight loss and needs a bit of time before it will let you drop some more. 100% normal and to be expected.

If you search the forum you'll this topic is one of the most common on the site, the "week three stall". You are fine. You're body is taking stock of itself after all that weight loss and needs a bit of time before it will let you drop some more. 100% normal and to be expected.

I did it! 100 pounds down in 2013!!!! I am at 100.2 lost as of this morning and I am thrilled.
Best decision of 2013, hands down.

Just watched an interesting documentary from the BBC called "10 Things You Need to Know About Losing Weight." May provide some insight into why we are asked to consume so much Protein. Here's a link to the online version of the show:
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-losing-weight/

If you search the forum you'll this topic is one of the most common on the site, the "week three stall". You are fine. You're body is taking stock of itself after all that weight loss and needs a bit of time before it will let you drop some more. 100% normal and to be expected.

And finally, we have our caboose heading in tomorrow and Tuesday! Let's hear it for these ladies!
Can't wait to hear from all of you! Don't overdo it! Remember no matter how bad things may or may not be, This too shall pass!
Dec 30 elsnanny Dec 30 DeezJeanz Dec 30 lashacarpenter Dec 30 kan75251 Dec 30 AngiD Dec 30 Mbindra Dec 30 jennybgenius Dec 30 donaboss Dec 30 moni75 Dec 30 mazzers120 Dec 30 cbwalker79 Dec 30 NJ mom of 4 Dec 30 LisaWS Dec 31 medicyn Dec 31 Texasmeg

You will be ok, try to hand in there a bit longer ok? It will get better!
I noticed I get gas bubbles from swallowing seem to happen less if I drink my Water while I am walking.
When can you advance to puree with your doctors blessings? Hopefully soon. There could be recipes you can eat soon that will help. Maybe a ricotta bake, pureed deviled eggs, pureed tuna salad, refried Beans with salsa, cheddar, and sour cream, etc.
If you are on full liquids what about egg drop Soup, yogurt, pudding, ricotta mousse, pumpkin pudding, sugar free fudgesicles or popsicles? Egg drop saved my day!
have you spoken to your doc about your challenges? Could Pepcid complete help? A pain med? Gas X chewables? Is milk giving you trouble?

I'm saying GN to all. I am the first case, b there at 5:15am, so off to bed for me!! God bless you my friends, Ik I've been blessed to know you:)

HW: 310 (12/09/13)
SW: 297 (12/23/13)
CW: 290 (12/29/13)
20 pounds in 20 days :-)

HW: 310 (12/09/13)
SW: 297 (12/23/13)
CW: 290 (12/29/13)
20 pounds in 20 days :-)

HW: 310 (12/09/13)
SW: 297 (12/23/13)
CW: 290 (12/29/13)
20 pounds in 20 days :-)