MrsMike1

I'm 4 months post -op and I'm down 54lbs but that includes my pre-op diet of 15lbs

I'm 4 months post -op and I'm down 54lbs but that includes my pre-op diet of 15lbs

I started my WLS journey on 5/31/2014. I saw my PCP to talk about options with losing weight. She suggested having weight loss surgery. She knows i struggled with my weight for a few years. SHe advised me to see Dr. Patrick Chiasson here in Tucson, AZ. I called the surgeons office to see if i can attend one of their weight loss seminars. I was scheduled in the first week of June 2014. I learned alot at the seminar and spoke with their coordinators about having the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I filled out the paperwork and then handed it to them, they called the insurance and verified what i needed to get approved. They then called me and advised me I needed to be on a diet with my PCP for 6 months, labs, and other tests. I went back to my PCP on 6/20/2014 to start my journey, I had high blood pressure and at a weight of 384.3. The first three months i lost a total of 48 lbs. After i had all my testing and my three months were done, I spoke with my surgeons cordinator and she did advise me that i had everything done and was going to send for approval with my insurance. In Oct 2014, i was told by my surgeon that I was approved for my surgery. I started my liquid diet on 10/28/14 for 16 days then was scheduled for surgery on 11/12/2014. I am now 14 weeks post op and have lost a total of 115 lbs. My HW was 384.3, SW was 336.6, and CW is 269.6 lbs. My goal is 190-210 lbs. Thank you so much for all the support from my family and friends who have had WLS or not. I totally appreciate the support and great feedback. I love you all. Thanks again.

You look amazing!!! Congratulations

Let me start off by saying I don't keep pictures of my old "self" so when my mom sent me this picture from thanksgiving I was shocked at how much my face has actually changed in this process. I knew it would but when you do a side by side it's pretty inspiring to keep up the motivation! 60 more lbs to go!!!

TLC is doing alot of stories on larger folk today and tonight. I watched the story about the guy who lost 400 lbs. 'the natural way' by dieting and exercising. He was training with the biggest loser guy..Chris something or other. Anyway, definitely a put down of those who have bariatric surgery so once I realized this was an old program, I Googled the guy, and what do you know?? He gained back 300 of the 400 lbs. he lost.
Now I take no pleasure in his weight gain but it shows once again that losing it is the easy part. It's the maintenance that's hard. The 600 lb. people next week has the woman who in the promo says that she could easily be back at 600 lbs. again but that she chooses not to.
That's the reality of our lives. Even with bariatric surgery, we can gain it back. I know...I see folks on this forum all the time struggling with regaining.
I just wish, as many of you also do, that the general public stops seeing WLS as the easy way out...or even as cheating.
Oh..and one more thing as long as I'm posting stuff about these types of shows. What's with the woman on My Big Fat Life? Is she supposed to make us think she's fat and happy? If so, she's not. She reminds me of myself...very self-depricating in order to shield herself from just how unhappy she truly is. Or she's just delusional. She's a very large woman and no one that big can be happy at that size. Not in this society anyway. Smaller is beautiful and anyone who says otherwise is rationalizing. Did you see the guy she met who was a chubby chaser? He didn't care about her...only about her body. That's probably what extraordinary beautiful women experience as well, but it's just an assumption on my part.
Anyway, just some random thoughts while I sit here and watch our mayor again tell us that the city will shut down tonight while the blizzard is upon us.

I don't eat "diet" foods, nor am I "low carb". I am 4 months out, I've never stalled, and I'm 90lbs down. I eat whole, real foods. I eat my Protein first, but I do enjoy small amounts of *gasp* rice, bread, and Pasta. Eating Thai food tonight, and I'm going to enjoy the hell out of my 1/2 cup of grub. There is no point to diet food...especially when at the early stages we struggle to get ENOUGH calories to not go into starvation mode (weight loss stalls, Hair loss, etc). Add to that the unnatural chemicals, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners that can't be good for you. Maybe farther down the road when I am able to eat more volume it might matter, but right now I enjoy being able to eat normally, for the first time in my life!

I told only those that had to know - my best friend, my mom and dad. That was it. I wasn't ready to deal with negative people or those that might try to talk me out of it. I always figured I could tell later if I needed to, but I could never untell anyone.

heres mine me at my biggest of 425lbs, then a the full body was oct of 2013 and the head shot was new years eve

225 to 140
size 20 to size 6
reached goal weight at 7 mths

You look simply amazing and radiant!!
I can’t wait to let time pass and put in my hard work. I’m only post-op 12 days and down 17lbs.

Easy recipe for crustless almost quiche.

This is a pretty easy lean Breakfast to make:

Egg muffins

Sometimes you want a hearty Breakfast that you can eat on the go or throw in your bag to take to school or work. Usually the most portable of breakfast ideas are carb and sugar loaded. These tasty breakfast egg muffins are a great alternative and can be made in advance! You decide what meat, cheese and vegetables you want to put it in making the combination possibilities endless. And since you make a bunch in advance you have ready to go breakfast options all week.

I love these. They are filling and so much healthier than your muffins, Bagels, donuts, and whatever else you grab with your morning coffee.

Ingredients (pick any/all/others), these are just ideas:
Spring onion as required
Chopped tomatoes as required
Onion as required
Cheese as required
Green chillies
You can add ham, bacon or other lean meats, spinach, ricotta cheese, bell peppers, and lots more as per your taste.

eggs 6 beaten with 2 tbsp milk, black pepper to taste

Instructions
-Preheat oven at 375f
-Grease your muffin tin
-Add vegetables of your choice along with cheese (if you choose), pour beaten egg mixture on it.
-Place muffin pan on the center rack of a preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until muffins are light brown, puffy, and the eggs are set.
-Let muffins cool for a few minutes before removing from the muffin pan or cups. Loosen gently with knife if they seem to be sticking. Eat immediately or let cool completely and store in plastic bag in refrigerator or freezer. The Egg Muffins can be reheated in the microwave.

I'm five weeks out. I am feeling really good and looking pretty good (according to family). I was cleared to advance my diet to hard foods. I can't eat much at a time but I've had some tasty meals. Today I had hot pork from my favorite buffet restaurant. I ordered off the menu. I was totally satisfied with the 1/4 cup I was able to eat. I had it for my supper too. At times I feel a little sad that I can't pig out like I did before but I remember how miserable I was after I would eat like that. From what I understand after some time, I'll be able to enjoy just about any thing just in much smaller quantities. I questioned whether I should have the surgery after losing about 50 lbs on my pre op diet. I have always lost in the past but couldn't reach goal and would gain it back plus more. I really thought maybe this time I could do it on my own. I remember feeling the same way the last two times I was on a weight loss plan. That feeling reminded me that I probably wouldn't reach goal and keep it off without some help.
It is hard. I hated the products i had to eat in the pro op diet and the post op diet. I hated the Protein shakes, I hated the broth. I hate sugar free anything. I'm not getting in the required Protein, calories or fluids yet (by a long shot) but I feel so much better. I was walking 70 minutes a day but my doc wants me to cut back till I get closer to 70 grams of protein and closer to 600-800 calories. It feels like it is a full time job trying to get everything in. I used to drink Coke or Water. Now Water has a bad taste. But that too is getting better.
I cried when I fit into a size 10 jean. I started at a size 20w. I never knew it had a name until I heard it on Jimmy Fallon, but my "front butt" is slowly going away. I have excess skin but it isn't as bad as I thought it would be.
It is a major decision. Not every one has a successful surgery. not everyone will keep the weight off. My husband's Aunt is one year out and has gained
a considerable amount of her weight back. If we don't follow our plan we all can be like his Aunt. Right now I have a great restriction and I'm not very hungry. I could not eat all day and I wouldn't feel hungry. I'm sure that will go away someday. That's when I will have to be diligent in following the plan. I won't deprive myself but I will try to eat mainly healthy. I just don't want to go back to eating the whole bag of candy after eating three plates at the buffet and 3 or 4 cokes. It is actually a relief not having to worry about having enough junk food in the pantry to get me through a night.
So long story short, although I'm sometimes sad, the benefit of the surgery far outweighs the sadness for me.
Good luck with your decision.

I had the same issue. My doctor told me to stop the shakes because the Water was sooooooo much more important. He suggested trying to make my own shakes with Greek yogurt and fruit. I still can't seem to get in 64 Oz but I sure am trying!!! But ya anyway it Depends on the doctors though I'm sure. I would talk to yours and see what they say good luck and keep in mind it won't last forever!

Thanks everyone. This is really helpful. I just am concerned that I am not getting in the Water and Protein I need. But sounds normal for how early it is. Oh, I checked the Protein Shake and it is actually 20 grams, not 10 in the shake. But I will check out the Protein Shake (Elode) mentions that has 30!
Anyway, I'll give the Doc a call tomorrow to be sure I'm doing what he thinks is best (he may tell me the same thing (as sleevemom88 and Maggie'sMom)-- concentrate on Water for now and get in what Protein I can. Anyway, thanks for the feedback, really helps put my mind at ease.

@@angewil60 Holy mother! Lol! You may need to type that up again....After you come off the pain meds!!!!

Sw:326
Cw:181
Age 21
5'7
26 more pounds to goal.

So the vet and I were out working cattle today. We had to vaccinate, trich test, deworm and tag 14 bulls. Basically, they are run into the chute one at a time, we do our thing and then release them out the front. At that point there is nothing between us and the bull, but they normally just wander off towards the open gate where they are released into another pen. Well the ranch hand responsible for this step was not running them out of our pen in a timely manner, so 4 bulls ended up together in the pen with us and two of them started to fight. At this point, all you can do is run for your life! They were slamming and crashing into everything and I managed to scramble to the top of a six foot fence. But before I could jump down on the other side, they came crashing right through the fence I was on. Fortunately, it was near the big barn door and I leaped up, grabbed the door frame and swung myself up off of the splintering fence as the bulls scrambled around under me. I had to hang there, basically by my fingertips until the bulls ran off into another pen.
The ranch guys were quite impressed and I played it off as no big deal....Just all in a day's work. But there is no way I could have even made it to the top of the 6 foot fence, much less pull myself up out of the way 100 pounds ago! So catlike reflexes and superhuman agility are now my new favorite NSVs.

I'm looking forward to walking a flight of stairs and not about to pass out. Oh, and I want to do that in really tight pants. LOL

Do what you can. On Monday, I'll be 4 weeks post op and I still cant get salll my liquid in but everyday, I can drink a little more.

I'm not sure if anyone is struggling with finding ways to moisten the food they eat but I found Barilla makes a light Alfredo Sauce and Bella Vita makes several flavored Pasta sauces that are pretty good tasting. I obviously do not use them on pasta but chicken or deli turkey and vegetables. Whatever you can get creative with using it on. I Just thought I would share as these are better tasting than Walden Farms in my opinion.

So your stomach stopped growling? I pray that I experience the same soon. The noises that emit from my stomach is so loud I try to either not eat around anyone, or eat a couple hours before I have to be in someone's presence. Imagine how difficult that is to schedule. Also, are you saying you were hungry after surgery and at five months the hunger went away? And are you no longer losing? I know, I'm full of questions, but I found your post very interesting as it highlighted so many of my own issues. Thanks.

I would think at your point you should be able to eat whatever you want..stick with the basics Protein first , wait your 30 mins before and after eating to drink,..ect. There are a lot of nice recipes online, Search for low carb that would be your best bet. Your 7 ish months out so your surgeon probably doesn't have a structured plan for you like they do in the very beginning...now you get to make all the right choices! ; )-

Hi All,
My name is Oz I am from Sydney Australia, Had the sleeve done on the 22/11/14 or 11/22/14 for you Americans !
Any one out there like to be friends or need anyone to chat to pre or post surgery get back to me !!
Keep strong !
Oz

#If-I-Can't-Eat-Them-No-One-Will #Joke