McButterpants

Yeah, I've started the shedding...it sucks. My doc approved Folate and Biotin. There some some that believe those won't help, but the doc said it was OK. I'm also concentrating on getting the Protein in. My doc says that the body thinks hair is optional (I beg to differ) and it will take care of the vital stuff first, then if anything is leftover, take care of the optional stuff like hair. I'm also using Nioxin shampoo. I'm throwing lots against the wall to get it to slow down! My doc says that anything you lose because of the surgery will grow back. My hairstylist says she can see new growth, even though I'm still shedding.

F O R T H E B E T T E R!!!!! Let me count the ways... This has been the most successful I have been at any attempt to lose weight. My blood pressure is lower. I"m off Metformin for metabolic syndrome. I sleep better at night. I can exercise for 75 minutes straight. I'm a happier person - I smile a lot. I have more confidence. I like myself more - I am kinder to myself. I don't need to take a nap every day. I'm not as cranky. I am more social. I feel more attractive to my husband. I care what I look like - I wear makeup again. Is it all sunshine and lollipops? NO! Not even close. I can't eat the same foods that I used to. Some days I'd like a big cheeseburger and fries. Some days I don't want to be a weight loss surgery patient - it is time consuming and occupies a lot of space in my brain. Sometimes I don't have 20 minutes to eat an egg. Some days I struggle to get in my 80 grams of Protein. Would I do this all over again - absolutely. This was the best thing I could do for me and my family.

Being nervous is normal. I almost backed out the day before surgery, then went to the required pre-op seminar and went back to feeling good about my decision. Being around other people that were in the same boat made me feel better. Then, the next morning in admitting, I almost backed out again. I though to myself, "You can walk out of here and only be out $500." I was terrified. Then I looked at my husband and thought about all the reasons why I was going to have the surgery. I chose right then and there to go thru with it. That was the best decision - I had some buyer's remorse the next couple of days, wondering if this was the right decision, but I attribute that to not feeling good. Once I started feeling better, my outlook was better. You got this!!!!!!!

The first doc I went to said no to gum and soda FOREVER - this was a the initial introduction seminar - he came in chewing gum and drinking a Diet 7-up then said he was a VSG patient. Classic "do as I say, not as I do".

All docs are different - I have read where some docs don't require their patients to be caffeine free. You should check, just to make sure. In the beginning, immediately after surgery, I believe the concern is the acid in the coffee - it's hard on your new tummy - and the diuretic effects of the coffee, even if you're drinking water. In the beginning you probably won't get to your minimum water intake for many days maybe even a week or two.

When I was about 4 weeks out and the thought of another Protein Shake made me want to run over myself with my own car, I tried some Health Wise Hot chocolate (I get mine at mybariatricpantry.com). It has 15 grams of Protein, so not as much as my unjury shake, but wow, did it help me get thru a rough patch and get my protein numbers back up. I purchased the Marshmallow hot chocolate and added sugar free peppermint syrup. It was awesome! I use Unjury shakes - strawberry, Chocolate Splendor and vanilla. I have 5 or 6 sugar free syrups at the ready. I also have added sugar free pudding mix to my shakes - it adds a different flavor. Also, Unjury has a chicken Soup protein shake - it's good. I also purchased Health Wise Soups - again, about 15 grams of protein vs. 20 in a shake. Best of luck to you!

Ahhh caffeine withdrawal...it sucks. I was a heavy coffee drinker - not only was a I heavy, but I drank a lot of coffee. Sorry, bad joke. My doc wanted me completely caffeine free prior to surgery - two weeks before. About 4 weeks before surgery, I woke up and said there's not time like the present, so I quit cold turkey. That was a mistake. By noon I was sick and had a terrible headache. I drank a strong cup of coffee and felt better almost immediately. I decided then, to ween myself off coffee. It took me 2 weeks to do it...The first couple of days, I swapped out one cup with 1/2 caff 1/2 decaf. Then another cup w/ 1/2 caff 1/2 decaf for a couple of days. Then I cut down to one cup of 1/2 caff 1/2 decaf and one decaf. Just slowly cut back on the caffeine and it worked. No headaches, it was great. My doc approved me at 8 weeks to drink coffee, but I had to pinkie shake it was only going to be one cup of caffeinated coffee per day. I can't go back to my old ways. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your chart! I think sometimes we think that the weight loss we saw in the first few weeks will be sustained - it won't. This is a great representation. Congrats on your success!

I always go directly to the airline's website.

I fly Delta almost exclusively - that's just my personal preference. You can upgrade to Comfort Economy - it doesn't get you more room side to side, but more leg room. A lot of times there are open seats in that section because people don't want to pay. Sometimes you can upgrade for as little as $9.00 per leg. Arm rests on most planes go up - unless you're in an exit row. If I'm flying alone, I don't mind the exit row because most of the seats have permanent dividers - doesn't allow you to ooze over into the person next to you. If I'm flying with my husband, we just lift the arm rest. I never had to use a seatbelt extender, but did struggle a couple of times when I was a size 22 to get the belt fastened. I have seen people request them and the flight attendant has always been discrete in getting one and handing it to the passenger. It is what it is - if you need one, just get it and be done with it. Once it's fastened, no one will notice.

Look at you!!!!!! Congrats! Keep up the great work.

Butterthebean has a great link to an article on stalls. It's worth the read: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html#.UukFkBaTNdg Stalls really suck - I had my first one for 10 days between weeks 3 and 4. I followed the advice I received on this forum - follow your plan and get in your Water and Protein. I also suggest hiding the scale and bringing it out once per week. I was weighing every day and getting more and more discouraged and frustrated. My husband took the scale away from me and gives it back once per week. That has saved my sanity. You're doing great - look at your ticker! Let your body figure out what's going on. You do your part by following the plan. Your stall will be over soon.

I had my surgery on an outpatient basis - in admitting at 6:00 home by noon the same day. I didn't have a drain. Doc fixed a hernia - he didn't charge me more, it was a "courtesy" for him to repair it while he was in there. He wouldn't have given me a discount if there hadn't been a hernia.

wow - thanks for sharing! You look great! Congrats.

I agree with Reverie - there's nothing to be ashamed of. While our journeys to 200, 225, 250, 275, 300 and more were all different, it's our action to our individual numbers that draws us together. Like your husband, mine said nothing about my weight ever. I would have been angry had he said something - I knew I was fat, I didn't need him reminding me of that fact. I always kept my weight a secret from him - when I told him I got to 256 pounds right before surgery, he was shocked. Really shocked - that's how much he weighs. I told him, "Honey, you and I have weighed the same for 8 years now. I can tell you the exact day that I caught up to you. We went to the doctor's office together and the nurse commented to me that I weighed the same as you." It was not my proudest moment. My biggest denial wasn't about the number of my weight....It was the size. I was jamming myself into size 20 jeans. I refused to by a larger size. In reality, I was probably was a snug 22 or even a 24. Gasp!!!!! I used to have to lay down on the bed in order to get my jeans zipped. I had to lose about 20 pounds before those jeans fit comfortably. So you were 290 vs. 270 when you started - on my driver's license, I'm a svelte 200...a number I haven't seen in about 14 years! You're here now and you're amongst friends. Best wishes to you!

You look great. And down to a 12 from a 22 - an inspiration! This is such a long journey - and really for me the emotional/mental part is so much harder than I expected. There are days when I don't want to be a weight loss surgery patient; I just want to be "normal". "Normal" in that I want to eat what I want, not wait to drink before or after, and most importantly not think about where I am at for the day on Protein before making my decision on what to eat. I know what I just wrote IS my new normal, but sometimes, I want to rebel against that. I hope things get better for you. You should be proud of your accomplishments!!!!

I'm weird I guess...I wait. :-)

Roo - this statement really resonated with me. I have thought a number of times in the past few weeks, that at 204 pounds I look smaller than I did when I was in the 170's (and gaining). It's weird. I put on a top that is seriously 15 years old and it almost fits - I weighed about 170 when I wore it on a regular basis. My butt is smaller than it has ever been, I think...at least it feels smaller! I attribute this to FAT LOSS...not just weight. We're actually losing that fat. It's not Water weight from the first weeks of a fad diet. It's not lean muscle mass because we are starving ourselves for the 20th time in our adult lives. We are burning away those fat stores and we are seeing our bodies change in ways they have not changed before. Isn't that great?!?! I know I am going to have to work hard to lose this weight - I'm going to fight for each and every pound. And that's OK. That's my penalty for not getting this under control 20 years ago.

I think taking your measurements is as important as logging your weight. I took my measurements right before sugary, then again at about 8 weeks - when I was losing particularly slowly. OMG - what a boost. I found that I had lost 28 inches (I measured neck, each bicep, each forearm, bust, chest, waist, hips, each thigh and calf).

Awesome stories, guys. About a month after surgery, someone told me I was looking younger (this person didn't know I had VSG). I looked back at some of my pics and I do look much younger - my face isn't bloated and that sickly gray color. My make-up enhances rather than tries to disguise the dark circles under my eyes. Yesterday I got another compliment from someone I haven't seen in a couple of months - she said, "You look fantastic!" It felt good. I replied, "I feel fantastic!"

I drink from the Camelback-type Water bottle I was provided by the surgeon....But now straws? The water bottle you gave me has a straw!!!!!!!!! LOL

On the subject of Water...pre-surgery, I drank plain water all day long. I loved it. Post-op, I couldn't stomach it (at 10 weeks out, I still can't - it's like drinking liquid sandpaper). I tried the first three days to drink plain water and ended up getting dehydrated - you won't want that. I started drinking Propel Zero and Vitamin Water Zero and it went down much better. The doc also suggested Powerade Zero, but that didn't taste good. I still drink a lot of Propel Zero - the Vitamin Water is a little too sweet for me, so if I have that, I have to water it down. Once I got on track with something I could drink, I just sipped, sipped, sipped. Immediately after surgery, I sent the alarm on my phone to remind me to sip - at first it was once every 5 minutes, that worked for me. As I was able to handle more, I sipped more. In the beginning, it's a full time job to figure out what your schedule is. Water, shakes/protein, sleep, walking, etc. Once you catch your stride, you'll do great.

I went to dinner at Cafe Rio last night - we needed something quick and I didn't plan ahead to eat at home... I ordered a Single Taco Meal - I had my taco made with roast beef and had them hold the rice, but would like pinto Beans on the side. I ate the inside of the taco which included cheese, the roast beef and some lettuce topped off with some pico. I ate some of the beans, but not a lot - maybe one tablespoon. I even ate some of the shell, but knowing I don't feel well after I eat a lot of carbs, I took it easy. I was completely satisfied.

I agree with Suzy above - careful about stocking up. I purchased a huge tub of nectar Lemonade before surgery and now I can barely stomach it. Also, be careful with vegetables - I wasn't approved for veggies until week 4 and it was broccoli or cauliflower puree. At 10 weeks out, I can't eat a lot of vegetables (maybe 1-2 tablespoons per meal), because I don't have room after my Protein.

Are you kidding me..............I would have thrown out everything he said about everything!!!!!!!!!! For Pete's sake!!!! I ended up changing local docs - once I got to know him, I realized he wasn't the guy for me. His help and support ceased when I told him I wasn't going thru the insurance appeals process and chose my doc down in Las Vegas. He wouldn't even fill out the form that says if I was low risk, moderate risk or high risk. I assume he knew the risk since he was willing to operate. I'm glad I kicked him to the curb! LOL