VSGAnn2014

The only way I know to kick the sugar / slider habit is to do it cold turkey. Why don't you take a week and just do Protein drinks (like you did prior to surgery to shrink your liver)? During that time, don't eat ANY sugar or other slider foods. Then Week 2 transition to protein, healthy veggies and some whole grains. The week on Protein Drinks might not be easy. But it would certainly kill your craving for sweets and slider foods. Also make yourself drink at least 64 ounces of Water every day. You could be confusing your appetites for hydration and for food.

How much is your friend actually drinking in a 24 hour period?

A single image taken of a stomach X month / years post-op isn't proof of anything. In order to prove that stretching (or perhaps I should say "significant stretching") has occurred, you need at least two data points (images). In this instance, the OP would need an image of her stomach taken soon after WLS to compare the second image to in order to assess how much stretching has actually occurred.

I also think some folks just never understood the power of "Eat protein, and eat it first." Protein stays in our stomachs a lot longer than a slice of doughy pizza does. It takes longer to digest protein. If we eat "slider foods" frequently we WILL get hungry faster and have to battle the old demons. I also think some folks never believed the warning that a sleeve is only one tool that we need to use to be successful long-term. They think that short-term restriction is all they have to rely on. Those of us who understand the other rules for long-term WLA success and follow them most of the time are having an easier time than those who don't. I don't say that to be snarky or sound superior. I really just think many folks aren't making the connection between WHAT they are eating and how it affects their appetites.

Just FYI ... I don't suffer from BED. However, I've read numerous posts at WLS forums where posters with BED report that WLS seldom or fully resolves their BED issues. No WLS alone will fix a real, accurately diagnosed eating disorder. In your shoes, I would plan to address your BED through a combination of psychological therapy, competent nutritional counseling (recognizing that most nutritionists aren't very knowledgeable about either WLS or BED) and anything else that helps you. Best to you.

"What a modern way to become healthy and to resolve your longtime weight problem! You're so smart."

WONDERFUL post, @@KindaFamiliar . That rocked. Congrats to you.

Ditto what @@JamieLogical said.

@@bellabloom ... Different strokes for different folks. The ignore function was made for you. Really, just put @@Babbs on ignore. After all, that was exactly what she was suggesting that you do. FTR, I also have several people here on ignore, who just irritate the snot out of me. Now, I never have to read their stuff, and I never feel compelled to respond in ways that would probably irritate the snot out of them, too. Also FTR, how Babbs offers her observations and advice doesn't bother me one bit. I enjoy her style. Different strokes for different folks.

Whoa! http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/01/downton-abbey-lord-grantham-ulcer-gif SPOILER!

@@Cape Crooner , your post above about feeling angry about not being able to socialize around alcohol in the past when dieting clarifies for me the reason for this thread and another thread you started about alcohol use. I'm not being snarky at all when I say I've had the impression you are generally grumpy about this alcohol topic. It's also obvious you keep coming back to it. I think I understand better now what's driving you on this topic. Thanks for sharing that insight about yourself. You've probably noticed from my comments that I drink, too. Wine and single malt scotch are my preferences. But since one (not two) drinks a day constitute social drinking for women, I endeavor to stick to one drink a night. When I don't hold the line on that I can start to feel entitled to having a scotch AND a glass of wine every night. Or two glasses of wine. And the wine pours go from 4 ounces to 6 ounces to 8 ounces. Sadly, I can't maintain my weight if I have two drinks a day every day. When anyone here comments about alcohol, they (like you) are coming at it from their perspective and their experiences. And if those differ from yours (or mine) it doesn't make them any more of a "troubled soul" than you or me. It only means they're not us. And that we're not them. Some people here are recovering alcoholics or are nervous about transfer addictions post-WLS. Or they're just trying not to drink their calories because they're still in the "honeymoon weight losing phase." I stopped drinking alcohol about 2.5 months prior to WLS and didn't drink until I was almost 6 months post-op. Looking back, that was the right decision for me, since it helped me navigate a calorie / macronutrients budget that let me maximize my nutrition while losing weight at a steady (albeit not fast) clip. I'm pretty sure that at our grown-up ages (I'm 70 years old) and given our respective long struggles with obesity and other life challenges that none of has had it easy. We're just trying to fight off the various monkeys on our backs while having as much fun as possible. Sometimes it's a real balancing act for me. Best wishes to you in figuring out how to do that, too.

OK, I'll quickly mention one thing I do: When I'm backing away from too many simple carb treats, I add in a lot more high-Fiber, lower-calorie, colored veggies that stick to my ribs ... like: Green Beans, broccoli, colored (red, yellow, green) peppers, onions, crunchy Romaine, spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes, grilled zucchini, celery (chopped up in chicken salad), black beans (in chili), frozen stirfry veggies, etc.

I guess that's why they call it a "series." And, as was discussed, Robert's illness and recovery (and how well he does or doesn't recover from this) means that Lady Mary (and her newly returned Irish brother-in-law) will assume even more responsibility and autonomy as they run Downton Abbey and work to save its future. It will probably also affect Lady Mary's current deliberations about who would be an appropriate husband candidate for herself and the gifts and distractions he might bring to the management team (so to speak).

Boy, there sure seems to be a lot of confusion about NSAIDs and sleeves. Here's what my surgeon said -- and I've confirmed it by doing a lot of research myself: * Sleeve patients should not take NSAIDs on a daily basis just prior to or forever after VSG surgery. And once again, that's a permanent forever no. * Sleeve patients may take NSAIDs occasionally for severe discomfort. But, again, they should not take NSAIDs on a regular, daily basis after VSG surgery. * Why not? Because NSAIDs weaken (destroy) the stomach lining, increasing the probability that the stomach itself will be attacked by its own stomach acid, causing stomach ulcers -- something that people with a sleeve (and not a big fat stomach) don't want to incur, since we don't have a whole lot of stomach left to remove should we have a bad ulcer that required removal of that portion of the stomach where the ulcer is. * This next bit seems to be greatly misunderstood by VSG patients AND medicos alike. It does not matter at all whether you take an NSAID via mouth, via IV, via shot or via a topical cream. The net negative effects of NSAIDs on your stomach are exactly the same. NSAIDs don't harm your stomach lining only because NSAID medications come in contact with the stomach lining -- but because the NSAIDs (delivered in any way to your body) reduce the ability of your stomach lining to protect the stomach against its own stomach acids. And protecting your stomach against ulcers caused by stomach acids is something you REALLY want to support. There's a somewhat understandable discussion of this at this link: http://positively-healthy.com/nsaids-and-bariatric-surgery-whats-the-deal/ Finally, it is probable that all your other doctors and dentists have NO IDEA that you shouldn't be taking NSAIDs post-op and will prescribe them for you. P.S. Did you know that aspirin (even baby aspirin) is an NSAID? Google "what's an NSAID" and you'll find long lists of all the NSAIDs that are readily available over the counter and via Rx.

While I was losing, my sweets came from: vanilla Greek yogurt Calcium chocolate chewables (which I have after dinner in the evening) Now I'm on maintenance and have a bigger calorie budget than when I was still losing weight.

That's what I thought they were building up to, too, Lenora. It's quite a scene -- get ready!

There's a guy here called @@nprcowboy who dealt with a terrible case of that.

This site is not inserting those ads on your computer. Your own Web site visit history or the terms you're typing on your computer (probably using Google) is what's sending those ads to your computer. The Internet knows all.

Oh, yes! I even looked it up to make sure I knew what it was (partial or full surgical removal of the stomach). As we know, the sleeve is an old-timey procedure used to remove part of ulcer patients' and cancer' patients stomachs. I wonder if he's going to lose weight when he gets home? (Bet not. ).

If surgeons aren't mentioning this supposed WLS dental calamity, what's the reliable source for this news? P.S. Also, are the people you're aware of with dental problems those who've had gastric bypasses, sleeves, or lapbands? (In other words, which surgeries?) P.P.S. Just googled weight loss surgery and dental problems and did find some message board threads about people who've had gastric surgery a long time ago who are having lots of dental problems. But all the threads were old (from the late 1990s and early 2000s). Not sure what the current concerns (if any) might be.

Lovin' these tips. Pleaes keep 'em comin'. At some point I'll summarize everyone's tips in another comment to this thread.

Post-op, you won't be able to eat fruits for some time. Or whole grains. Your carbs will be easier to control. The colored, green, red, yellow veggies are what you should introduce first. Some dairy products, even skim milk and yogurt, will be the greatest early source of your carbs. FYI, I wasn't big on the low-low-low carbs approach. Never was my thing ever. Also FYI (you should do your own thing, but you might like to know what others have done), my calories / Protein grams looked like this: Month 1 - 500 cals, 60 grams protein Months 2 - 4 - 800 cals, 80 grams protein Months 5-6 - 1,000 cals, 90 grams protein Months 7-8 - 1,200 cals, 100 grams protein Early maintenance - 1,500 cals, 100 grams protein Maintenance today - 1,700 - 1,800 cals, 80-90 grams protein My surgical physician's assistant (who stays up on the latest, greatest WLS research) encouraged me strongly to raise my 5-6 month cals to 1,000 and my 7-8 month cals to 1,200. She said if I continued to eat only 800 cals, it would stunt my future maintenance metabolic rate. I gotta say I am so happy I can eat 1,700 - 1,800 cals and maintain (now at 135 pounds). And I'm not a gym rat or a runner either. I do walk and move a lot more, do yoga, etc.

(clearing throat slowly ....) I don't think I've acquired a transfer shopping addiction. (clearing throat slowly again ....) However (ahem), I have shopped more in the last year than I did in the previous couple of years. And for an obvious reason: As I lost weight, I shopped out of my closet (my old "skinny clothes"). But eventually I lost so much weight I literally had nothing to wear. At 135 pounds, I now weigh less than I've weighed in the last 35 years. Another thing that happened is that at 70 years old I decided to modify my dress style (which is basically "classic") by adding pieces in some "rocker chic" and "street style" ways of dressing. That has meant more leather, less matchy-matchy, different jewelry, shoes that are less "traditional," more skinny jeans, and outfits that combine pieces from different designers and different stores. Sounds like it could turn into an expensive new addiction, doesn't it? Happily, I have found an amazeballs high-end consignment clothing resale store where I now spend 90% of my clothing budget. My new clothes budget for 2016 is only $100 a month, which will require me to do some serious planning before shopping and spending. I probably averaged twice or even triple that amount in 2015 (my first "skinny year"). And if I had more money I could and would spend SO much more money on new clothes. These days I'm making a list of the types of pieces I want to acquire this year. I think (and hope) this will reduce my impulsive purchases. Besides, I no longer have the excuse of having nothing that fits me. My closet now contains lots of pieces in sizes 2 to 8. P.S. Since becoming slimmer, I now understand that what we've always heard is true: Sizes mean absolutely nothing. You literally have to try on a piece of clothing to find out if it fits you.

It feels awful being rejected. It just does. It's overwhelming. There's no two ways around it. The really great news is that you have supportive parents. I think it's also great that you are planning to become more financially independent, no matter how your "trial separation" turns out. That won't be a fast project, but it will surely lead you to greater strength. In the meantime, I hope you two will go to counseling -- whether you stay together or not. Counseling can help a couple in multiple ways, including helping partners learn how to repair and strengthen their marriage or to separate or even divorce successfully. In the meantime, try to breathe deeply and slowly. Get some daily exercise, which will also reduce your anxiety. And every day, get out of bed, brush your teeth, get dressed, make your bed, and accomplish something, no matter how small. It's time to work on yourself -- not to be worthy of your husband, but to love yourself in this tough time. (Hugs)

"You are carrying your weight well" Geez, nobody carries an extra 160 pounds "well." What are / were they thinking? You're so smart to address this big problem with WLS, despite the lack of support you received from several people, particularly your doctor (and your other doctor). You're going to be so happy with your results. Get ready to feel like a new, healthier person very soon.