astraphile

where in NJ are you from or are looking in? i went to NJ Bariatric Center which has 3 locations: hoboken, springfield, & somerset. there are 4 surgeons who rotate among the 3 offices. i went to dr. angela jack glassnap and she was AMAZING! i've had such a smooth recovery (9 weeks out today, as a matter of fact!). she is currently on maternity leave until december, but her colleagues are also wonderful. i would highly recommend them, and her specifically if you are just starting the process and aren't looking for a 2014 surgery date. check out their website: http://www.njbariatriccenter.com/ in any case, good luck!

hi kia! first of all, welcome and CONGRATS! i'm almost 7 weeks out and these are the Protein drinks i've been using: Isopure black tea lemon flavor (40g of protein, 1 carb, zero sugar), it's a 20oz bottle and it's the only isopure flavor i can tolerate. it's sorta like a diet snapple flavor. for me it's quite tolerable as long as it's super cold. sometimes i pour it over crushed ice and squeeze some fresh lemon juice in it. when i'm at work, i tend to dilute it with Water and then i'm killing two birds with one stone. i just like that it has a ton of protein and is easy on my sleeve. the other is in powder form, Gold Standard 100% whey Protein. they have several flavor options, you'll just have to see which ones you prefer. i like the chocolate or the strawberry banana. i use 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk, 1 cup of water and 2 scoops of the powder (48g of protein, 5 carbs, 4 sugars). i stick to about 20-25 carbs and less than 10 sugars total per day because carbs have always been a problem. i tried the gummies because i couldn't stand the chalkiness of those chewables, but the gummies have additional sugars that i didn't want to add so i switched back to the chewables. it will get a little easier to tolerate them, at least it did for me. i have a follow up next friday and i will be asking my doc if i can go back to pill form for all supplements. i take omeprazole, Vitamin A, Vitamin D and feverfew supplements as pills, so i assume i can do the calcium and Multivitamin like that as well. good luck!

i think everyone is different based on their skin and how it heals. my small scars are barely noticeably at this point because they are so tiny (i'm 6 weeks out from VSG) and my larger scar was placed in my belly button so although it's much more noticeable, it was strategically placed. considering how i'm only 6 weeks out, i'm pretty happy with them thus far. good luck to you!

i went to mexico one month before surgery and definitely thought i made the right choice. however, i'm 6 weeks out now and i'd be perfectly content going on a cruise or other vacation spot. yes, my food intake is completely different, but i feel great and would have no issue with it. of course, everyone is different, but if you allot yourself at least a month or two in between, i would think you'd be ok. GOOD LUCK!

welcome and good luck! just get as informed as possible about the procedures and let your surgeon also help guide you. i also have PCOS along with gallbladder and stomach issues. i was sleeved 6 weeks ago today and really feel great! keep us posted!

my instructions were to call the doctor if a serious pain persisted for more than 4 hours. i would recommend calling your surgeon to ask. always better safe than sorry! i hope you feel better soon!!! please keep us posted.

great job!!! you look awesome. can't wait to see where i'm at at 6 months!

you're so welcome! i'm glad your appointment went well. i'll touch base before surgery to send you positive vibes. in the meantime, feel free to reach out with any questions!

i agree with UPnDOWNinNY. you need to take it easy these first few weeks, although walking and doing some cardio is great. make sure you're getting your protein and water and the rest will take care of itself. good luck!

one day at a time. it will definitely get better and in a few weeks you'll feel completely normal again with the exception that you can only eat tiny bits at a time! i'm a little over 5 weeks post-op and i feel really great. GOOD LUCK and keep us posted!

congrats and good luck! my best advice is to try to stay relaxed. i know that's easier said than done, i was panicking a few days before, but it all worked out so well that i would do it again in a heartbeat! (i was sleeved 6/25) i'm sure you will do great! just take it day by day and once you're home, remember to sip plenty of water/liquids and walk! keep us posted!

wendy's chili, any grilled chicken salads (just avoid croutons and high carb dressings), i really love the grilled chicken nuggets from chick-fil-a, i've also had a jr. bacon cheeseburger from wendy's minus the bun and mayo. there are certainly more options out there, the trick is to not eat out too often as a lot of these options are really high in sodium which can cause Water retention. also, try to avoid items high in carbs: potatoes, bread, rice, etc. every place has a website with nutritional info. i'm anal about looking things up ahead of time and making choices based on the items highest in Protein and lowest in carbs. i stay under 20g of carbs per day. i'm sure you could do more, but my body has issues processing carbs and that slows down my loss, so i just try to avoid them at all cost. hope this helps!

great post. i tried several times to lose weight the "natural" way, but my love of food and my PCOS made it very difficult for me to keep it off for long. i'm 5 weeks post op and can tell you that this is definitely hard work and my small tummy is only the half of it. if i don't put the right things into said tummy, and i don't burn calories daily, i won't be successful. so to think this is an easy way out or that it is somehow an easy choice, is ridiculous. the point is to get healthy in whichever method is right for you.

i had my period the day of surgery (6/25) and i just completed my july cycle this past monday. it was normal, however, and i hope it stays that way! good luck!

most folks hit a stall early on. i'm only 5 weeks out and also hit a stall in the last 10 days. it's definitely frustrating but there are several of threads on here that talk about the dreaded 3-week stall. reading how many people have or are going through the same thing will make you feel a lot better, believe me. just keep working on your Protein and Water intake, try to avoid carbs (at least that's why my doc recommends) and try to keep moving/burning calories. eventually you'll start losing again. our bodies are just healing and trying to recover from the shock that we just put it through!!! as for the folks you mentioned, try to ignore their comments and keep your head up. a year from now, they'll be looking at a brand new you and none of their comments will matter in the least. it's all about how YOU feel about yourself! stay strong!

from what i understand, the fact that you're having liquids and sticking to low-fat options during the pre-op will help shrink your liver. i wouldn't worry about it too much as long as you're sticking with it and you're actually losing weight (even if only a few pounds), that in itself is helping. my surgeon said the only way she wouldn't do the surgery is if on surgery day i would've gained rather than lost. i lost only 6lbs during my 2 week pre-op diet. my sleeve was done on 6/25 and it went perfectly! hope this helps.

so amazing! i'm only 5 weeks out, but i can't wait to see what the next 10 months bring. CONGRATS!

i'm dealing with a stall, too, and it's driving me bananas, but it is definitely good to know that it's a pretty common thing. i was sleeved 6/25 and have a similar situation going on as you, p-ruck21. hopefully we get past this in the next couple of days!

personally, i have no interest in delving into a serious relationship with anyone until i'm in the right headspace and i'm assuming that will take some time. (i had surgery on 6/25/14). as for casual dating, i don't intend to give that up because i still want to enjoy myself and have a good time without the intense emotional attachment (unless i meet the man of my dreams, of course lol), but i suppose everyone is different. you have to do what's right for you. if you feel you want to work on yourself without the interaction of any physical or romantic partners, then i say, do what you have to do. the key is to be honest with yourself and with anyone else involved. if you know what you want, then you're half way there. good luck!

i started drinking isopure after surgery and the only flavor i care for is the black tea with lemon. it's kind of like a diet snapple, which certainly isn't my favorite type of drink since i'd much rather have an unsweetened tea. however, i just pour it over crushed ice and squeeze a little lime or lemon and it's very tolerable for me. i haven't tried ALL the flavors, but the others that i have tried tasted way too artificial for my liking. the vitamin shoppe near me says the black tea seems to be the most popular based on their sales and honestly, at 40g per 20oz, i make it a point to drink one daily! hope this helps.

i got mine the day before surgery and as previous members posted, it was definitely not a big deal. don't sweat it and good luck with your surgery!

i was sleeved on 6/25 and i just hit my first stall. definitely a frustrating part of this, but i know it will pass and honestly, i'm feeling so great and have gone down 3 sizes, so i'll take it for now! please add me as as well to the private FB page: Jessie Marie Alberto. my pic is the same as my profile pic on here. thanks!