VSGAnn2014

Marce, FYI, I'm 5'5". I started exactly where you did: 235 pounds. I lost 19 pounds pre-op. Surgery day I weighed 216. I lost 66 pounds to goal (150 pounds). Then lost another 9 pounds -- was 140.8 morning before last -- during the last 4 months. Oh -- and I'm nearly 70 years old. I didn't lose fast, but the pace I lost at was just fine with me.

Rice is about the last thing I'd attempt 2 weeks post-op. What everyone else said: Hydrate, rest, Protein.

At 3 weeks out I was getting close to 800 calories. Months 1 - 4 I aimed for 800. Months 5-6 I aimed for 1,000. Months 7-8 I aimed for 1,200. (All this was on the advice of my bariatric PA who said if I ate too little for too long I'd teach my body how to survive on a starvation budget.) Apparently, it worked. I reached goal in 8.5 months. In the last 4 months I've lost almost 10 more pounds and am maintaining that weight (141-143 lbs.) at 1600-1700 calories. Obviously, everyone's advice, experience and results on this subject varies.

My selection criteria: * ASMBS Center of Excellence * Intro lecture (3 hours) showed him to be smart, unrattled, a good educator, not too young and not too old * Geographically convenient to me and in US (insurance covered surgery) * Thousands of WLSs performed and (he said) no surgical deaths * Consultation - he was confident, but not cocky; inspired my confidence (a gut / judgment thing for me) * His staff obviously respected and adored him (again, a gut / judgment thing) * His staff seemed (and are) very competent, too. * Although I hated all the pre-op hurdles at the time, looking back I feel they worked to my advantage by encouraging me to educate myself (mostly online) prior to surgery. I believe that in my case pre-op knowledge of what was to come has been critical to my WLS success. FYI, I didn't know anyone who'd had WLS, so I didn't consult anyone for personal references.

@@Dream4tc ... the psych screening is designed by my bariatric program. And, like another poster mentioned here, there were some redundant, similarly phrased questions. But that's just how those things are designed -- to increase test reliability.

It's not "just Q&A" at my program. Patients take 3 different written tests -- for a total of 600 items. Takes at least 2 hours. Then an hour-long interview.

I'm a sleeve patient, out a year and at goal for 4 months now. I don't have a problem with bread or Pasta. That I've noticed.

Re fear of weight gain ... I can't imagine each of us doesn't fear that. But I'll speak for myself: I fear it. I'm only four months into maintenance. There's no way I feel stable at this point.

Re dribbling ... your first 3 posts above.

sweettea, you're really dribbling out the information here, one post at a time. And I read on another thread a few minutes ago that your husband was sleeved not long ago (he's still obese), but he's now bringing into the house and eating ice cream, cake, cookies, etc. How do you feel about that?

Yeah, no. I wouldn't tell them. You'd be amazed at how little attention most people pay to others' lives. BTW, I see so many overweight and obese people on these boards who feel "obligated" to share so much more private information about themselves than seems healthy to me. It makes me think fat people (I can call us that -- I'm a member of the tribe!) crave approval and intimacy overly much, given how little approval we've received for being fat. Just a random thought there.

@@Sajijoma ... you probably didn't mean it that way, but I actually grinned reading your post. I think you'll be fine. Yeah, it's hard feeling judged.

@@KnowUrWorth ... I'm still looking at your name. So sorry for your suffering. I hope you don't endure it much longer.

I think my longest stall was 9 days. I didn't suffer from them too much. I just looked back at my daily weigh-ins. And it looks like at around 4 months I started gaining a pound or two before losing 3 or 4 pounds. The graph looks like a ski slope with little moguls. (If that image helps.) Prior to that it was pretty steady -- down or straight and then down. This thing doesn't move in a straight line. At all. All you can or should do is eat, drink, move, sleep and take your meds/vits/mins as you should. That is all.

I liked it. Body image issues aren't always about how fat or skinny you are. The majority of people spend a shocking amount of time worrying about what they look like to others. I'm about to give that crap up myself.

Bitches they be crazy. Truly. Some of them really are. You do know that they're harassing you, don't you? Next time something like this happens, go get Security and let them take photographs. Then file a complaint with your HR department. Don't make a fuss yourself. Just quietly do those things. Then step back and watch what happens.

Last weekend at Talbots I found three pairs of slacks in size 6 that fit me wonderfully. I realize Talbots may be one of the vanity-sizing shops. But I didn't care. And it was a monster sale -- 65% off the lowest price. Oh, and weirdest of all, at my favorite high-end consignment shop I found a black satin hooded zippered jacket in a size 2. And no, it wasn't a Chicos size 2. Altogether, I got 6 pieces for under $100. Crrraaazy good all around!

@@wildflowergirl ... you're going to do GREAT at this. You have a great, positive attitude. That really helps so very much.

My adult beverage of choice is wine -- either white or red, depending on the season and the food I'm likely to drink later. (The taste of the wine is still there for me.) In winter, I love single malt scotch. When I drink, I only have one drink (4-5 ounces of wine), and I don't drink every day / night, but usually do on weekends. I'm the definition of a social drinker (max of 1 drink a day). For those who care: http://alcoholrehab.com/alcoholism/social-drinking-defined/

Post-WLS problems. Lifestyle -- it's a concept, ain't it? Some related concepts -- alignment, accommodation, assimilation, accomplishment. One other thought -- there's vacation and then there's regular life. They're not the same, and probably for some good reasons. (I'm preaching to myself here.) Best to you!

I think we eat for three reasons -- either we're legitimately hungry, or we're really just thirsty (and confused our thirst for hunger) or we're eating because something is triggering "head hunger" (an old response to some kind of stress -- could be small, could be large). Thirst is easily remedied. Drink Water. Snacking to assuage real hunger usually requires Protein and carbs and sometimes fat, too. So I second the "add some protein to that cucumber" suggestion. There are so many other Proteins you could add: turkey, yogurt, nonfat milk, a Protein Bar or shake, nuts, seeds, etc. Think protein. And on the tummy fat, please know that my tummy was the last place I lost significant weight -- during the final 15-20 pounds I lost. If it's still hanging on, chances are you just have to finish the job. Good luck to you. And have a GREAT first year at college.

My advice -- open a www.myfitnesspal.com, don't make friends with anyone on it (that way, only you see it) and use that tool to plan and record your meals and everything you eat and drink. That's what I did pre-op, and it was such an eye-opener. If you want to acquire a healthier lifestyle, you certainly can. Many have done it before, me included. This can be done.

What a great surgiversary message and success. Congratulations to you.

Thanks. I thought you might be jonesing for fries and cheeseburgers. Well, you can surely have real food pretty soon, eh? The key to moving successfully to "real food" is to try things you've never tried post-op one new food at a time. You know the rules -- hit your minimum Protein requirements, eat protein first, drink 64 ounces of Water / liquids daily, then add over the next few months (as your stomach continues to heal and your tummy volume/restriction permits) some healthy veggies, then some fruits, then some whole grains. As your calories go up, your protein levels will probably (and should) increase. Re salads, those certainly weren't the first veggies I could handle. But your mileage may differ.

Embarrassed? Value your personal privacy? But you still need information and feedback? That's why many here (like you) are here using nicknames. And that's why you should just ask your question straight up. There's no way in the world (with @ as a nickname) that your comments could be traced back to you.