mae7365

I love to shop the clearance racks at Macy's, Dillards etc. They have designer clothes on those racks at crazy prices. Plus, they always have further discounts on weekends. Ross is always fun and reasonable. Designer names at discount prices. I'm currently into yoga pants (they make me look skinny) and I love getting them at Ross for 50% of what they cost at Dicks or Sports Authority!

I agree. Some foods just fill me up faster than others - even the high Protein foods vary. eggs and tuna are really hard for me to eat a lot of. 4 ozs of chicken or fish is fine. It all depends on how your body adjusts etc. I never try to finish what I think I'm supposed to eat, even if it's a measured quantity, if I feel like one more bite will make me sick. I've learned to throw food in the trash - a new concept!

I had GERD pre-op controlled by Nexium. I still choose the VSG for the long term nutrition and malabsorption issues. I had TERRIBLE REFLUX from week 2 to week 12 post op. I lived on TUMS, Rolaids and Gas-X. I dreaded sleeping every night since I knew I would wake up with acid in my nose/throat and coughing for hours.
BUT......I would do it all again. I'm done with that now and I feel fantastic. The nutritionist at support group told me I was clearly an exception, but that it would subside i n 3-6 months post op. She was right. So I guess I'm the worst case scenario for you to consider when making your decision.

According to my NUT, any food that will dissolve in 5 minutes when placed in Water. So crackers, pretzels, Cookies, cake, bread etc. High carb, high processed foods.

According to my NUT, any food that will dissolve in 5 minutes when placed in Water. So crackers, pretzels, Cookies, cake, bread etc. High carb, high processed foods.

Well if your anything like me you won't have any hunger after. I mean none. So it's really easy to not eat or "cheat".

I submitted all my paperwork yesterday about noon, and was told that I received my approval letter TODAY!!! Unbelievable! Hopefully 3 weeks until surgery!!!

I'm in the same place as FineDiva and Mae7365. Because my new downsized tummy will tell me when I've had enough, it makes it easier to NOT over-indulge in the things that taste the best to me, i.e. crunchy, spicy, salty foods, but if I want something, I will take a bite or two and quit, and that includes the sweets/chocolates/etc. What I miss the most right now is being able to take more than just a sip of ice cold Water, and I would LOVE to have a Diet Coke, but carbonated beverages are not permitted per my surgeon, so I am doing my best to follow his instructions so I can (and will be) successful in this journey, but I also don't want to feel deprived food-wise.

I feel pretty much the same most on this thread do. I had surgery to use this tool to help me live a healthy, happy ,well balanced life.
I will be 4 months out on Monday and I have had bites of sweets. I'm not much of a sweets person but every once in awhile something just looks good, so I take a bite. I can do this because I know (1) I can't eat more than that and (2) I don't want to eat more than that.
Don't beat yourself up about it, you have to learn how to balance your eating. Don't feel like you have to deprive yourself of anything, unless your new tummy doesn't like it.

I've had cake, pie, Cookies and candy........all in very small amounts. As @@finediva said, I didn't have surgery to never eat sweet again. I had it so I can learn to control what I eat. And I have. I know I can't eat sweets every day and in the massive quantities that I did before surgery, but having a bite of my husbands dessert when we go out to dinner is just good for my mental health. I don't feel deprived AND I feel like I'm finally in control.

I'm two weeks post-surgery and just transitioned over to soft food. I was actually pretty surprised how easy getting fluids and things like yogurt down was. I can drink a 20 oz bottle of Water in 15-20 minutes, 6 oz thing of yogurt in 15 minutes, a cup of blended chili, etc.. That last two nights I've had tuna fish salad and scrambled egg. I was thinking my sleeve must be huge if I can eat 6 oz of yogurt or a cup of chili without batting an eye. 1/2 cup of tuna fish salad - I'm DONE. Can't even think of another bite. 1 egg with a little cheese on it - DONE. I'm glad to see the restriction kick in big-time for more solid foods. It does make me understand more about "sliders", "eating around the sleeve", "cheating the sleeve", etc.

Well this morning I finally made it to goal! It took me exactly 7 1/2 months to get here and I'm totally thrilled with the entire journey! For those wondering how it happened so quickly, I can only say that I followed all the rules meticulously: 80-100 grams of Protein, no starches/sugars, some veggies, no booze/soda, and 64-120 ounces of Water every...single...day, plus daily walking and once a week workouts. I always had a plan for what I was going to eat, even at parties and restaurants, and if I deviated from the plan, it was always protein-based, like cheese, nuts and beef/turkey Jerky. So... going in, was I worried about missing out on food? Yes. Did I feel deprived during my journey? Nope, as my tag-line says, "Nothing tastes as good as slender feels!" What's next? Lose 4-5 more pounds so I can have a little wiggle-room and still stay at or below my goal weight. Will I go crazy now and eat all the stuff I've missed? I don't think so because I've tried to get my head straight about this being a lifelong effort. Can you do it too? Absolutely!!! Thank you to all who have given me support and guidance along the way. I hope I was able to help you too. And my plan is to keep coming here and posting my message about The Dreaded Week-3 Stall, because it almost broke me at the beginning of my journey. I wish everyone who reads this a world of success!!! If you want to ask questions or get tips on how I worked my program, send me a message and I'll try to give you a thoughtful answer. Okay, here are some embarrassing photos and some slightly less embarrassing photos.....

Well, I've had cake and Cookies (fiber one cookies) and about three Hersey kisses. Haven't felt guilty yet. I didn't have this surgery to never eat these things,ever in my life again. I had the surgery to allow myself to have control over my eating. After a few bites of anything, I'm done! And my life goes on. I love the freedom of that. Before my surgery, I would be obsessed with eating the entire bag of candy or the WHOLE cake. Now I'm just not interested. Also, there are times sweets are presented to me and amazingly, I'm not interested. But if I am, I ask for a small piece, indulge and throw out the rest of it.

My go to Snacks are: P3s, string cheese, beef Jerky, almonds, edamame and hummus, cuties mandarine oranges, apple slices with PB2, and tuna salad. I divide most of my snacks into snack size ziplock bags so everything is premeasured and easy to grab on the run. I keep a clear plastic shoe box sized box on my kitchen counter with all of my premade snack bags in it. I have threatened my boys with instant death if they raid my snack bins. I find it is fairly quick just to get the scale out and divide the big bags of snacks out by weight until the big bag is empty and just be done with it. I am all for streamlining life!

I'm three months on Thursday and I am thrilled. I think my husband is having an "affair" with the new me. I am so excited to shop, try on old clothes and have them be too big or have the smaller sizes fit. 43 lbs gone, down 4 dress sizes and 3 Jean sizes. No more medication for HBP or cholesterol. No more BiPap. Life is good!!!!!!!!

It will go away. Everything tasted different to me right after surgery. I lived on herbal tea and Ramon noodle broth for the first 4 weeks. Everything else tasted terrible - even the Protein drinks I liked before surgery.
My neighbor had sleeve surgery two weeks ago and she told me the same thing is happening to her. I think it's very common and it does go away.

I had my vsg on Nov 12th, and I am also seeing my hair fall out and it is very, very thin. I'm also doing everything recommended. I'm terrified that I'm going to loose all of it at the rate I'm going. Any suggestions or words of wisdom are appreciated.

Exciting....and you look fantastic. I'm loving 2015 so far and I have no doubt it will only get better!

My insurance initially approved an "at home" sleep study. It had significant enough apnea events that I was approved for a sleep study at a sleep center. They hooked me up to a million electrodes, put a bipap on my face and I watched TV until I fell asleep. They woke me at 6 am and sent me home.
If it wasn't for my "mild" sleep apnea, insurance would have never approved my sleeve surgery. I'm now bi pap and sleep apnea "free" as of one month post op.
If you need sleep apnea for insurance purposes, I wish you good luck! The study itself is uneventful.

So many on your list would be on mine as well. Some days I just gush to my husband about how great I feel about myself. He was not supportive of my having surgery (since surgery is only for people who need to loose 100's of pounds....), but he is now on board with me. I love pulling old clothes out of the closet and doing "fashion shows" to get his opinion of whether I should keep or donate. All of my high heeled shoes now fit and some require insoles since my feet have clearly gotten smaller. I still take my OTC Prilosec, but I'm off all other presurgery medications. No more high blood pressure, high cholesterol and no more sleep apnea. I just never thought I would ever be thin again and I am so happy with the woman I now see in the mirror!

So many on your list would be on mine as well. Some days I just gush to my husband about how great I feel about myself. He was not supportive of my having surgery (since surgery is only for people who need to loose 100's of pounds....), but he is now on board with me. I love pulling old clothes out of the closet and doing "fashion shows" to get his opinion of whether I should keep or donate. All of my high heeled shoes now fit and some require insoles since my feet have clearly gotten smaller. I still take my OTC Prilosec, but I'm off all other presurgery medications. No more high blood pressure, high cholesterol and no more sleep apnea. I just never thought I would ever be thin again and I am so happy with the woman I now see in the mirror!

I have to add that I was getting a new polo for my volunteer job. I had a men's extra large that fit me for the first time in Oct., about a month after surgery. Since I was in the office I thought I would get a replacement to wear this Spring. This other volunteer, a thin woman, couldn't decide what size so I was brave, saying I'll take a large. So she took a medium. I took it and scurried home, figuring it will fit some day.
That some day is now. It fits. From a men's xlarge that didn't fit to a women's large that looks great. There is so much mental adjusting to do as well.
And now I can say I am building up my intracellular supply!

I went shopping for new tops yesterday and kept defaulting to the larger sizes. Ended up in LARGE but kept walking back to the Women's sizes. I've gone from Size 2X to Large in 11 weeks. My daughter tells me I look "skinny" and I actually have a waist! I keep my sewing machine in the kitchen so I can take in the seams of my slacks before I leave the house.
I'm trying to create new habits - park as far out in the parking lot as possible so I need to walk further, I make a conscience effort to speak to people I know since people don't seem to recognize the thinner me........I'm proud of the decision I made and the changes I've made that have got me to this thinner me!

I'm three months on Thursday and I am thrilled. I think my husband is having an "affair" with the new me. I am so excited to shop, try on old clothes and have them be too big or have the smaller sizes fit. 43 lbs gone, down 4 dress sizes and 3 Jean sizes. No more medication for HBP or cholesterol. No more BiPap. Life is good!!!!!!!!

I pulled out my sewing machine.......haven't used it since I made Halloween costumes for my kids in the 90's. But I've figured out how to remove seams (seam removers are nifty devises) and I have taken in 2 - 3 inches from my slacks and shorts. It may not be a perfect tailors job, but it works for the majority of clothes. I refuse to buy new clothes or spend a zillion dollars on tailoring when I've changed sizes 4 times in 3 months.
But, I'm retired and this is a great project to keep me occupied. It would be a struggle if I was stills working or had small children around the house.