Rogofulm

I prefer Premier Protein, chocolate flavor (the vanilla is lousy). 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, 5 carbs, and 1 gram of sugar. I drank 4-5 of them per day during the pre-op fast. I got pretty sick of them, but managed to push through. I'm over 4 months out now, and I still have one every morning for Breakfast. Starts off my day with 30 grams of protein. Just went to costco at lunchtime today to buy 4 more cases. My family enjoys them too when they don't have time for a meal, like sometimes before church.

Wonderful news! Congratulations!!!!

Yep, loose rings happen. It's a great feeling, as long as you don't lose them. Hey Jennifer, since you're two weeks out now is the time to warn you about.... The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. It's perfectly normal, and just about all of us have suffered through it. If/when you stop losing on the scale, please be assured that you're not crazy, and your doctor didn't screw up. In fact, you might not lose any weight for two weeks or more. But don't worry -- after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. If you're interested, here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight again like crazy! (Apologies to BP regulars who have seen this repeatedly, but it's a big deal to those who are going through it!)

Have a fourth or fifth Protein shake if necessary. It's okay. You still won't get more than about 1000 calories. You might look at lower carb shakes, though. Premier Protein Shakes have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, 1 sugar, and 5 carbs. Try drinking 4 or 5 of them and 64 ounces of other Fluid like Water or Crystal Lite. It still won't be easy, but it should help.

It took me a while to adjust, but now I'm used to it. In fact, when I set the table, I put out drinks for my wife and daughter but not for myself. If a bite gets stuck, I'll take a sip of of theirs -- BUT -- rarely does that help. As food/drink backs up my esophagus, it triggers the vomit button and must be taken care of. Also, sometimes I'll forget not to drink before a meal, then I can't fit the amount I know I should eat in during the meal. And then... I get hungry between meals. Best just not to do it.

Ouch! Talk to your doctor, stat! I had stomach discomfort/pain several weeks out from surgery and realized that my (generic) Protonix prescription had run out. Once I got it refilled, the discomfort went away and stayed away. Could it be that simple for you? It's worth asking. Good luck!

Wow, @@Shell88! For some reason your post really touched me. It sounds like you've got all the right tools to be really successful in your weight loss journey! I agree that the BF will go, either sooner or later, so you may as well be the one to do the deed instead of waiting for him to reject you. Hopefully the new, healthy, confident you will attract the right kind of person who will love you for your inside, not your outside. Okay, let's talk about the holidays... I was sleeved in late June and I have to tell you that if your head is screwed on right, you won't have any trouble dealing with social events. For example, just this weekend I attended 4 major eating events in two days! I ate my meal right before I went, and brought along Protein shakes in case of a hunger emergency. I also brought my own drink along -- a huge tumbler of Crystal Light decaf iced tea. Pre-planning is the key to success at eating events! Don't let yourself be hungry going in, and have your emergency backup food available. In my case, my backup food is often beef Jerky. Not too many calories, tons of protein, and lots of chewing. A 3-oz bag will get me through anything! At the holiday parties, I think you'll discover that the positive feedback you'll get for making good choices will more than outweigh the satisfaction of just another yummy feast. I mean, how many of those have we all had? Thousands, right? But how many times have we felt really good about our food choices? Precious few. The new you will love that. Oh -- and if you're having sleeve surgery, the lack of the Ghrelin hunger hormone will make passing up the food much easier! You may not even care that your'e not eating it. Good luck on your journey!

WARNING!!! Given what you said in your post, you need to be aware that you may be getting close to The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. It's perfectly normal, and just about all of us have suffered through it. You're not crazy, and your doctor didn't screw up. In fact, you might not lose any weight for two weeks or even more. But don't worry -- after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. If you're interested, here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight again like crazy! (Apologies to BP regulars who have seen this repeatedly, but it's a big deal to those who are going through it!)

Yeah, there's some saggy skin. But it sure beats the alternative! As you say, you're young and, presumably, still elastic enough to bounce back quickly. The best way to keep your skin elastic is fluids, fluids, fluids! And the best way to stay healthy and satisfied is Protein, protein, protein! Now repeat those last two phrases over and over again throughout your journey. And if your husband is as supportive as you say (as my wife was/is) your husband will be so thrilled that he won't even care about the skin.Good luck!

It's completely normal! We all got cold feet before surgery. If you have a reputable surgeon and hospital, the chances of something going wrong is %5 or lower. I'll bet most of us would say that the last thought we had before going under was, "It's not too late to back ou.....zzzzzzzzz." Good luck!

Fantastic job!!!

We don't know what other issues you may have, so it's hard to know why the surgeon recommended the bypass. A friend of mine got it because it would improve his diabetes more quickly. But I was also type 2 diabetic on insulin and pills, and my blood sugar levels were completely normal -- without any medication -- within two weeks. Now I'm not in the medical profession, so this is just my personal opinion, but, here was my thought process on why I chose the sleeve. I "only" had 111 pounds to lose. Even though the bypass can result in slightly quicker weight loss, this is a long-term deal. Long-term results for all three surgeries are turning out to be about the same. The bypass is more invasive than I cared for. And I worried about malabsorption issues. I'ts scary enough to give up 80% of your stomach without re-routing it to your intestine. The sleeve surgery removes the part of the stomach that produces Ghrelin (the hunger hormone). I like that! I'm not positive about this, but my sense is that the sleeve leaves you with the less-stretchy muscle part of the stomach, while the bypass creates a pouch from the stretchy part. That made me worry about stretching out the pouch. I believe the sleeve has less elasticity. So that's one person's thought process in choosing the sleeve. As stated by other responders, you may have other issues that would make the bypass advisable, and you should consult with another doctor or two before moving forward. Also, whatever doctor you decide on, you should check out their credentials and success rates. Good luck!

Hello. Man, here. Many guys are pretty shallow about looks, but many gals are too. How many of us guys were flirted with when we were 100+ overweight? And I know that it's even worse for women. But our society as a whole is prejudiced against the weight-challenged. Does it suck? Yep! Is there anything you can do about it? Probably not. You can see it in hiring, promotions, salary increases, and everywhere else. How many times have you heard someone refer to "that fat slob" on the radio or TV? Somehow, it's still the last "acceptable" form of discrimination. So I would suggest that perhaps your anger could be aimed at a wider target. Maybe you can start a non-profit organization against weight discrimination. Or... Just try to move past it. Recognize that it's unfair (it is!), but we are responsible for our own emotions. Then choose the more positive outlook. "Hey, people are finally recognizing me for the terrific person I am inside, because they're no longer intimidated by my outside." You've lost 80 pounds -- that's amazing! Run with that and keep if going!!!

They really should call it "the banana" because that's what you're left with. Do some internet searches on "vertical sleeve gastrectomy" and you'll learn all about it. Then find a bariatric surgeon in your area and go to one of their information seminars. That should give you the info you need to make a decision about whether or not to proceed. Good luck!

Just get back on the horse and do your best to stay on. You'll be fine.

Looking forward to having a "my size". For now, I still shop mostly at Goodwill or Salvation Army for clothes in "my transitional size." Also have tons of extra space in the closet for when "my size" comes. Oh, and I bought a handful of new shirts last week to get me there in white, light blue, dark blue, bright red, and.....purple!!!

So true!

....when you can clip your toenails without gasping!

Happy Birthday and congratulations!!!!

Congratulations, Jerry! That's fantastic news!!!!!!! I'm fully committed too, and trying to follow in your footsteps....

No candy for me this year. Just made it through my first of two pizza parties today. This one also had a make-your-own ice cream Sunday bar. Ate lunch beforehand and wasn't tempted. dinner tonight is another pizza party. Gonna eat dinner before that one.... and bring along a Protein shake to "break open in case of emergency"!

For what it's worth, I stalled for 3+ weeks around 4 months out as well.

Great to hear! Keep up the good work!!!

Congratulations! You look.... ONEderful!!!!