WildGrits

I still drink coffee anytime of the day....2 cups in the morning, then I bring a travel mug with me in the car.
If it's really good coffee, then the only way to enjoy the flavor is Black....
Usually have a cup around 3pm.....Love espresso.
Protein shakes with a shot of espresso is one of my favorites.
Still meaning to get an espresso machine.
My Coffee habits have not changed one bit since having WLS....had my first cup within 12 hours of surgery....
But that's me, and I would not suggest following my lead by no means.
I did not select a poll selection because my selection would be "I did not change a thing and have no intention to"
Sorry, but there's always one in the crowd.

Well, my face is smaller, but my nose looks the same, I think. My issue is my large wide feet. Happy to report they are still large, but no longer wide. Yayy!

I'll be subscribing to this thread. Thank you for bringing this up. I am pre surgery but I have an interesting prospective. I have been feeling a bit like an imposter my entire process for getting qualified for surgery. This, WLS, is supposed to be the like the last house on the block. We were supposed to have tried and failed miserably at the weight loss thing and never had any long term success at losing weight, but this has not been my exact story.
In 2005, I lost 140# without surgery. I discovered that I have a sensitivity to gluten and sugar and I stopped eating junk food. I didn't exercise but the weight literally fell off my body. I was lighter than I had been my entire adult life. I went from 320# to180# in about 8 months probably averaging about the same clip as a bypass patient I'm imagining. I had some feelings of euphoria, but mostly I felt like a live electrical wire. My comfy fat, my safe place to hide from the world was suddenly gone and I felt as if I was practically electrocuted if I would even brush by furniture too hard. I had trouble sleeping with the new sensations of my knees, ankles and toes rubbing together aching for their familiar cushion and I felt horribly uncomfortable if anything including clothes touched my newly discovered clavicles. I cried at random and inconvenient intervals. I stayed at this low weight for a VERY short time and hovered comfortably at 200 for many many years.
I was never prepared for and have never heard ppl taking about how to just be and reside in a body, newly formed and considerably smaller. How do we really listen and hear and feel in a body with new sensations and dimensions? How do we become like the normies I call them, those people who never ever gain weight while we constantly were ballooning up and dieting down the scale?
What were/are we to do with our one life outside of food? I know I have the tendency to want the newer, sexier, more interesting route to any destination, like success with even WLS can't just be about plain old (following the prescribed) diet and exercise, can it? I'm still wondering if the surgery is just the newest thing for me. I switched my surgical consideration from sleeve to bypass for this very reason. Because if I'm going to do it, I need to go old school. With me it had to be vegan, raw, paleo and Crossfit. Zero to sixty. Never just walking, always training for the half.
What happens when the proverbial dust settles and it's not about the food anymore and the weight is lost? When the life I thought weight loss or this surgery would fix is still going forward unchanged? Sitting in this empty space with myself without support and resources or a clue is what made maintenance so elusive and probably so for most people who've lost massive amounts of weight with or without surgery and gained it back. Will having had a glimpse of being thin for a while make me a better bariatric patient, more compliant? Perhaps, or maybe not but at this stage in the game I can't take anything for granted but these are the questions that are clearer in hindsight and that I need to formulate a plan for now on this side of surgery.

I had the sleeve and couldn't be more satisfied. I work with 3 ladies that had RNY - and they are happy with their choice as well.
The biggest pro for RNY - easier and possibly more weight loss because less food is absorbed in the intestines.
The biggest con for RNY - must be more careful about the foods you eat (dumping syndrome) and taking Vitamin supplements for life.
I don't think you can go wrong with either procedure. I would choose the sleeve again, simply because the thought of having my intestines rerouted creeps me out! :-)
But if I had psychological issues with food or food addictions, I would have the RNY.

What were you told prior to surgery about life after surgery that was not entirely true or was not the entire story?
Although I feel that my Dr's seminar was very informative as well as this message board, there are many aspects of my new life I was not prepared for. I was not prepared for how easily eating something that doesn't agree with me can take me out with such intense pain for hours. How feeling full is now in my chest not in my belly. How incredibly important it is to stay hydrated.

What do you wish you had fully understood prior to surgery that you did not and what do you believe would have put you in the best possible position to succeed after surgery?
As I stated before, the Doctor was very informative and I am extremely happy that I choose to have the surgery. And it has been stated here many times but I still to this day have a hard time wrapping my head round it. NEITHER THIS SURGERY NOR THE WEIGHT LOSS WILL MAKE YOU LIFE BETTER!!!!! OMG I cannot stress it enough and am still struggling with it. Now I am just a much thinner me but struggling with poor eating habits and all my other vices that I have had for decades. It didn't improve my marriage, my parenting skills or my relationship with others. It is a weight loss tool and that is all it is. You still have to do the hard work.

What information, if any, was missing in the lead-up to your surgery that gave you unreasonable expectations or that led to disappointment in the months or years since surgery?
None that I can think of.

Be kind to yourself.
Really. Starting now.
Just a thought too. If the biscuits are the draw for you at RL and they are no fun unless eaten by the basketful, then RL is probably better off left in your past. But that's your decision to make.
Most restaurants I go to have a few things I like so if my unhealthy fave is not WLS friendly I can still enjoy myself. Soups are my go to for emergency eating. I'm lucky I like Soups and almost every place offers Soup.
You're doing great. Congratulations on speaking up for yourself.

There are some great private groups on Facebook if you are interested. I can send you an invite if you like?

I just want to add that I never get even close to 75 grams of Protein. 50 is really good for me.

Ham and cheese
1oz serving of ham is 5grams
1oz serving of mozzarella is 9grams
calories 100

Thank you vets! Because I read this site obsessively for several months before my surgery I knew from the get go what to do to be successful for me and I have sucked it up and done that for the 5 months I have been sleeved.
Without the wise words of the terrific vets on the forum I just might of tried doing this my way rather than my surgeons way and that most likely would have gotten me where it's always gotten me--to another failed attempt at weight loss.
So I big Thank You to all the vets for telling what works for them.

...don't come down on folks when they offer it.
Especially if you are new to the WLS experience and the vets respond to you. We see the same questions over and over and over again and we still take the time to answer you because we know that for you, it's the first time you are going through this.
It would be so easy for us vets to leave the forum and live our lives successfully but we stay here because we remember how it was at the beginning or if we see that you are struggling during the WLS journey....so we stay here and try to help. Please think about that if you don't like how we've responded. It's not because we know better....it's because we simply know more than you do right now. Respect that please.
We try so hard to be sympathetic when you screw up or ask questions that you already know the answers to...like I didn't lose 5 lbs. in one week, is this a stall? Or, I ate a bag of chips...did I do bad?
I've been on this forum for a year and a half and in that time, I've seen too many vets take a hike and it's often because they are rebuffed when they offer insights or even just their own personal experiences. If you want this forum to succeed, and if you personally want to succeed...be aware of what you say either on the forum or when you PM. Especially when you PM.
And one more thing. I didn't post this on Rants and Raves because it's not a rant. It's a request.

Glad to hear you've had a great experience this time round.
Out of interest (and I am yet to check your profile), would you mind posting the 'before' work you had done and the after on this thread; just for comparisons sake?
I'm in the process of considering plastic surgery options and I'd be eternally grateful to see what is good and 'bad' work.
Best regards,
Revs

Since I am pretty new here, I have noticed that there is a lot of interest in Plastic Surgery in Mexico. Having just had my LBL done down there 7 weeks ago I thought I would share about it. Having surgery in Mexico, is not new to me as I had my RNY done in Ensenada back in 2003. Then last year I had three procedures done, a lower face/neck lift, arm skin removal and a breast lift/implant all due to the weight loss. At that time I did not do all the checking that I should have and didn't pay attention to the red flags I saw, but went ahead and went to the "Fancy Clinic" all made of white marble and glass. Well the center was nice but my results didn't turn out so great, as I am now in need of having two of the procedures completely redone. So please do your homework, do not just go by what someone tells you. Why well I have seen raving reviews from a person whose photos show horrible work. I was like that too, I saw improvements in the beginning and the fact that I had sung the praises of this certain PS, I was ashamed to later say I was wrong, it wasn't until people started telling me they wanted to go to my PS that I knew I had to come forth and say something, as I did not want to be responsible for anyone's bad outcome. All I will say about The Vida Clinic, is do your homework, don't just check out the good reviews but also the not so good ones. Pictures do not lie...
So today for me to give a good review of a Doctor you know he has to be pretty darn good.Thankfully for my recent surgery I found just such a Doctor. It took me a whole year to do so. I spoke with Doctors from Tijuana to Monterrey, even driving out to Beverly Hills to met with Plastic Surgeons. Some were great just way over my budget as in $40,000, where others had great prices, but not so great cut lines and sewing. I checked out every online site there is, reaching out with phone calls to past patients. I saw some incredible incision and sewing lines done by this one Doctor, who I was a little nervous about since he didn't have as many reviews as other Doctors had, but had the highest marks from the viewers that he did have. So I took a chance and called and spoke with him for quite a while, I felt good so I took a leap of faith, and I am so glad I did, because he turned out to be a master at his craft. Not only is he a board certified Plastic surgeon he also has a specialty in Micro-Surgery, thus those perfect incisions and sewing lines. He had his Plastic Surgery training all done in Israel where the standards are some of the highest in the world, which I am sure why he is so above the rest.
I flew into San Diego and Dr. Victor Gutierrez picked me up himself! so we could get to know each other on the short drive down to his clinic. Later that day I had a two hour mark up...He is very detailed minded. Next day surgery, spent the night at the center, and I woke up feeling great, since he uses twilight sedation, you don't get that horrible anesthesia hangover. And just as he said, I was not in any pain. This is after having a full stomach muscle repair. When I asked about how this could be, he explained it was due to the gentle way in which he handles the tissues....
Well recovery went well and on day 7 after surgery I was on my way back home. A quick trip to the San Diego airport where there was a wheelchair to greet me I was soon home. The best part is that all my stiches were internal so no waiting to have the stiches removed and this way the incision line remains very pencil thin... I have posted some pictures taken at two weeks on my profile. So if you are in need of a Great Surgeon for any of your extra skin removal, I highly recommend my new surgeon Dr. Victor Gutierrez

The more I resist food anesthesia, the less tolerance I have for @$$#0\€$ in my life.
It's become clear to me that taking the WLS step was not just about me losing weight and getting healthy. It was about self respect and making life changes. It took a lot for me to get to the jumping off point. But now that I have started, I've set in motion something bigger than dropping some sizes.
Maybe that's why it took so long for me to take the WLS plunge. Because it's not all about the weight, is it?

I just saw a commercial for a new movie with Melissa McCarthy in it. Why is she playing the same part over and over, portraying herself as a stupid, fat, slovenly, drunk who can't control herself? It really makes me mad because I think many people believe fat people are lazy and unable to have any self control. While I am no longer fat, it offends me because it is promoting that stereotype. Even when I was 267 lbs I was hard working, intelligent, and able to exhibit self control.
Grrrr it makes me really cranky!

I was thinking the same thing, WOW
That is a well written letter to them, more than maybe they deserve.
I do understand your frustration with people not in your shoes making judgement. I suffer from a lot of pain and (not the Dr) but others involved are quick to pass judgement at times when they dont even know what they are talking about.
We are here for support,
Colleen

All that I can say is Wow!

After awhile it becomes second nature. And believe me, you learn to accept it after a few swallows of food that hasn't been chewed enough.

What a misfortunate streak of bad luck! Mono is NO fun and for it to throw off your surgery date... ARRGHHHH...
I was worried about timing, too because I have a vacation in Belize planned in August and didn't want to have my surgery too close to that date. The last week before surgery it seemed like there was a holdup in approval and that it might delay things. It did work out but I had a week of major stress in there.
Take time healing from the mono and don't try to push for the surgery. You really need to be as healthy as possible going into it. It may take another month or two but on the grand scheme of life, it's just a little speed bump and you'll get past it soon enough.
Best wishes!

It took me MONTHS to get my energy back. I was asleep in my chair by 8pm most nights. For the first months I was taking almost a three hour nap during the day. Even after the Dr. said it was time to start walking, I didn't have the energy to do so. Now I'm almost 4 months out and I am walking 3-5 miles a day. I now have more energy than I have in DECADES. Give yourself time to heal. As my surgeon put it, this surgery is just under heart surgery in terms of extremes. You will take a long time heal due to the low calories.

It took me MONTHS to get my energy back. I was asleep in my chair by 8pm most nights. For the first months I was taking almost a three hour nap during the day. Even after the Dr. said it was time to start walking, I didn't have the energy to do so. Now I'm almost 4 months out and I am walking 3-5 miles a day. I now have more energy than I have in DECADES. Give yourself time to heal. As my surgeon put it, this surgery is just under heart surgery in terms of extremes. You will take a long time heal due to the low calories.

dont these have sugar in them? i would say if you are going to drink anything, it should be Water or Protein shakes. avoid any sugar sweetened anything! to the OP, assuming you are on soft foods ... scrambled eggs, ricotta or cottage cheese, milk, greek yogurt, tofu, mashed Beans, nut butters (unless you are not allowed nuts, i wasnt), ground meats cooked moist, chicken cooked moist. if you are getting in your fluids, Protein and exercise, you will begin losing again soon enough. the same thing happened to me and i am still losing at 11 months post op. (PS, you dont have a pouch, you have a sleeve)

I cannot eat tuna or Peanut Butter anymore.
PB rocks my belly and I can't even swallow tuna. I love them both and miss them.

It definately will get better. Don't lose hope. With both surgeries you have put your body through a lot. It's gonna take time to recover.

My puppy Jacques is a Pyrenean Mountain Dog (or a Great Pyrenees). He just turned one and is a great walking companion. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't get my three to five miles in a day.