McButterpants

Celebrate! I can probably count 2 or 3 times in my lifetime (44 years of age) where I can recollect the kind of cake that was served at an occasion. Make memories of your celebration with your family and friends...not the cake & ice cream. That cake you were going to eat is going to last about 10 minutes and you won't remember it the next day.

Been having that issue myself. It was 5 days after surgery (last week) when I told my NUT that I hadn't poo'd. She freaked a little. I got a probiotic and some Metamucil and that got things moving. I went a couple of times the following 3 days, but since then, nothing. Now, I'm having that same feeling, but having a hard time getting things moving, if you know what I mean...I've tried the probiotic and Metamucil again, but nothing. Hubby suggested a cup of real coffee - I laughed at him, but he may have been onto something if it worked for you guys.

Thanks..I'm down 13 since surgery - and look at you with your 11 pounds lost! We are close in surgery dates. I need to get my head straight - I think that's where the hard work is. Take good care!

The scale has never been my friend and weight loss surgery hasn’t helped our relationship. When I diet, I tend to weigh every day, perhaps multiple times during the day (a mid-afternoon weighing will have to take into account being fully clothed and if I ate recently or if I just drank a lot of liquid). When I am not dieting, the scale sits there, neglected and collecting dust. Since we arrived back home on Friday (five short days ago), I have probably weighed 12-13 times. Yes, that’s averaging over two times per day. This is not a healthy behavior. Here’s what happened yesterday…I weighed in the morning and the scale said I “only” lost a half of a pound since the morning before. I think a normal person would log that and move on. Not, me and probably not many obese or formally obese people. I thought about that measly little number and wondered what was wrong with me the entire day. Why didn’t I lose more? I calculated my total weight loss. I calculated my loss since surgery. I calculated my loss since Friday. Over and over and over again all day long. Then I had a mid-afternoon weigh-in, subtracted for clothing and it was about the same and still feeling disgruntled. Why do I do this to myself? It makes no sense. I get hung up on the numbers that the stupid scale says – I relinquish all power to that stupid scale. When you look at it in reality, there is no possible way I am not losing weight. I am only taking in about 500 calories per day. My body right now (without exercising) burns at least 2000 calories daily. There are about 3500 calories in a pound. That calorie deficit adds up quickly, especially once you add in a walk here or there or start incorporating exercise. So why do I care so much about what that evil, bathroom-dwelling scale says? How can it have so much power over me? We need to Celebrate our non-scale victories (NSV’s). These are those little wins you get that are not necessarily related to the scale. Just in the past couple of days, I have had some. I tightened my FitBit Flex up by one notch (this means my wrist is smaller today than it was a few weeks ago when I got it). I tried on my winter coat last night and it fit. A few weeks ago, it was uncomfortable to zip up with just a t-shirt on, so I only used the Velcro fasteners to give me more room. Last night, not only could I zip it, I could have probably worn a sweatshirt and it would have still been comfortable. So, what am I going to do about it? I’m going to have my husband hide the scale. It will come out once per week on Thursday’s for a weekly weigh-in, then back in hiding it goes. As for my brain…I’m not sure the hubs can hide that. Do you do this to? How often do you weigh?

The brain...go figure. Lipstick, beautifully written. While I wish I could offer some eloquent words of wisdom, I cannot. Though I am new to my VSG journey, I have lost and regained more times than I care to count and I know exactly what you mean.

I can't county how many times my mom will start talking about food and goes on and on and on, then goes, "Oh, we're not going to talk about food!" I'm like, "Mom, I'm still going to eat food and we can still talk about it. I just really don't care about it like I used to." Or when my husband says, "If I catch you eating something bad, (insert threat here)". I try to remember that they (my family) and that they mean well, but wholly hell they make me angry. Do you feel comfortable to talk to them, not when they are policing you, but at a time when you're not upset? You know a, "Hey can we talk for a few minutes?" type of a thing? Then explain, "I know what I'm doing with my sleeve and my body. If I take a sip of Water when I eat, it's because I need one. I know that drinking while eating is not allowed, but that's not what I'm doing." I wish you luck!

I was sleeved at 8:00 am on 11/14/13. When I came out of recovery at about 10:30, they had me walking right away. Then they took my bed and replaced it with a chair. The chair wasn't comfortable, so I kept walking. I left the hospital at 11:45 that same day. (My doc performs the surgery on outpatient) I did go back to the condo and slept for a couple of hours, but then started walking every hour.

I had my surgery on 11/14/13. I had similar "OMG" moments prior to surgery and was always able to talk myself off the ledge. I always went back to the reasons why I was doing this and that brought me back to being OK. One time I went so far as to list the pro's and con's on paper. Be prepared - they may come back more frequently as you get closer to your date. I almost backed out of surgery the day before. I was having some serious, "What the hell are you doing" moments. Once I went to the doctor's office for their mandatory meetings and I was surrounded by others that were going thru the procedure (including my patient coordinator) I felt better. The next morning at 6:00 am I sat in admitting, truly thinking, "I can walk out of here right now. I'll only be out $500." Then I thought of my mom. She's severely obese, diabetic, has heart issues, blah blah blah - I can see down that path...it's going to be me if I don't do something about this now. So I CHOSE to go thru with the surgery. After the surgery, for about 3 days, I thought again, "What the hell did you do to yourself?" It was miserable. We would drive down the road and all I could think about was all the places I couldn't go to eat. It was depressing..."I'll never eat that again." "I wish I could have a Krispy Kreme." Total pity party. (I think it didn't help that I felt crappy during this time as well.) Then about Day 4, I snapped out of it. Probably correlated with me feeling human again. I actually started to look forward to things. Trying different kinds of foods that are within the boundaries of the sleeve. Taking walks was fun, not laborious like they were before. I had a completely different outlook. Today, 1.5 weeks out from surgery, I have not misgivings or second thoughts. Do I wish I could drink a whole cup of coffee before it gets ice cold? Sure. Do I wish I could finish my 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese in under 15 minutes? Absolutely. I need to find some patience somewhere. But, the 11 pounds I've lost since surgery and the way I feel today is all worth it. (I only wish I could poo on a regular basis - that is really annoying!). So, in summary - you're going to have those "Oh, crap!" moments. Be honest with yourself. If this is what you want to do, then do it. You will know what the right decision is for you. I wish you luck, Harlem. This is a long journey!

I was just thinking about this - I was sleeved on 11/14. I can take in much more Water today than I could 2-3 days ago. So much so, that I started really tracking my intake...I just drank 10 ounces in about 45 minutes. I was 8 ounces in a hour a few days ago. Surprising! Good luck with your recovery.

I am two weeks out and still trying to figure out the coffee deal. My stomach can handle a sugar free, fat free, vanilla latte from Starbucks - as much as I can drink right now, which is maybe 1/2 of a short. I have a Keurig and have been experimenting with flavored syrups, fat free creamers, milk, coconut creamer, etc. I drink about 3-4 ounces and lose interest or it's cold. I've tried an insulated cup, but that's not the same as sitting down with a piping hot ceramic cup. Nothing is upsetting my stomach - I'm more bummed about the coffee drinking experience. (I drank a fair amount of coffee pre-surgery - 3-5 cups daily.)

Sleeved 2 weeks ago - I live that motto!!!!!!!

Hi there. I was sleeved on 11/14, so we're close. I couldn't stand the taste or feel of plain Water in my mouth - by Day 3 I was dehydrated. I started drinking Vitamin Water Zero and that helped a lot. I had no issues drinking that. My doc also approved Propel Zero and Gatorade Zero, but I stuck with the Vitamin Water. I am not cleared for Vitamins until later this week, so I can't help with that. Were you told to take in any Protein at all?

You had me at olive oil! LOL I love the lunch meat w/ cukes idea. Gonna try it when able and if I'm able to find this yummy concoction!

As for the memory loss...I wish I could forget all those fat years!!!!

Congrats on your success and getting thru the stall. Keep working hard!!!!

Last week I thought my back was just bothering me as it does from time to time...Then, I poo'd for the first time in a week and the pain was gone. This week, the same thing. I'm guessing the two are related! :-)

I get mine at World Market. You can go to torani.com to see what flavors are out there. Stores usually don't carry all the flavors - you can buy on the mfg website if you see something you like but can't get it locally.

I was sleeved on 11/14, so we're close. I tire easily and that's to be expected. I listen to my body. If I feel like I need a nap, I take a nap. If I get 1/2 the dishwasher emptied and I'm tired, I stop and I come back to it later. I am walking a lot. I try to walk about one mile twice per day along with my other activities. Some days I don't get both in. Each day I just do the best I can. Yesterday I spent 7 hours in a gym for a basketball tournament and walked more than I had since surgery. I was exhausted and probably overdid it. I came home and took a nap. For the emotions - I worse immediately after surgery. I seriously considered backing out of the surgery the day before. The next few days I was filled with remorse. I kept saying to myself, "What have you done to yourself?" But I find that each day gets better, especially after I accepted the fact that I went thru this and continued to think about the reasons why I did this. I think you'll find the emotions will will lighten up. I know I've been quicker to snap at my husband or son in the past few days. I try not to, but it is what it is. I'm working on it. I wish you luck! This is a long journey filled with self-discovery!

$11,000 with Dr. Thomas Umbach in Las Vegas. Had a wonderful experience there two weeks ago.

My surgeon had me cut out coffee 4 weeks prior to surgery. I did and and I drank decaf. I'm 1.5 weeks out and I will be honest, I had a sugar-free, fat-free vanilla Latte from Starbucks in the airport on the way home last week. I drank maybe 1/3 of the short before I threw it away, but man it tasted good! It didn't bother my tummy at all. Since I've been home, I have had some decaf coffee, but it gets cold before I can finish it, even in an insulated cup. I drink maybe a couple of ounces and kind of lose interest in it. Until tonight...I popped a 1/2 caff in the Keurig and brewed. I added some sugar free vanilla syrup, sugar free salted carmel syrup and some milk. Well hello, Carmel Macchiato! It was heavenly.

I didn't "click" with the first NUT I met with. She was so snarky, she didn't seem compassionate. This was on the initial consult! She put out a 1/4 c. measuring cup and asked, "that's how much food you will get in the beginning, can you live with that?" I said, "I couldn't now, but maybe with 85% of my stomach cut out that won't be such a big deal. I don't know." I quickly got rid of that team, including the doctor. My doctor now is a NUT, so I don't have to see two different people and she's a lot nicer!

M2G, I'm glad you said that about the blurry vision immediately after surgery - I was wondering if that was "normal"! Not that it matters now, but it did worry me when I would look at my phone and it was fuzzy.

I was surprised at how quickly you can start increasing your Water intake. The day after surgery, it would take me a couple of hours to get in 8 ounces. A few days later, it was an hour to get in 8 ounces. I was also surprised at how quickly my surgeon had me up and walking and sitting in a chair - IMMEDIATELY. Like out of recovery and it's time to sit. Then walk. And I was surprised that I was ready and wanting to walk. Most of all I was surprised at my thoughts - I almost backed out the day before surgery. I had some serious second thoughts. But then I would think about all the reasons I wanted to do this. It took about 3-4 days after surgery to be OK with my decision to go thru with the surgery. I was scared those first few days. Best of luck to you!

I make Brussel Sprouts like Arts127 - cook them until they are a little caramelized. OMG - delicious. My husband only had them like his mom made them - she boiled the life out of them. He always said, "I don't like them. I won't eat them." After 15 years, I made them and now he actually asks for them.

I love, love, love the Roadside Lemonade! The Fuzzy Navel is pretty good, too. You can get a sample pack of 10 at bariatricpantry.com and you can choose your flavors. It's a nice change from the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ones, that's for sure!