Elizabethe Glickel

It's a tool that help you get control of your eating habits. My weight is coming of slow. I was feeling sorry for myself because I wasn't having that rapid weight lost like others. I would do it again, the thirty pounds that I have lost, remains off. Take this time to research on behavior modification, which will be your challenge and work on your exercise program. Good Luck

My VSG was in May 2014 and I have lost all of my excess weight. The VSG worked for me because I followed my surgeon's program as closely as I could. From my observations, that is the most important factor determining success or failure. The people who seriously follow the guidelines almost always lose most of their excess weight. It is a wonderful tool. The VSG gives you some months (it varies) when you are more in control of your food intake because your hunger is greatly diminished, but it doesn't make your food choices for you. Most VSG patients can eat most things (although in smaller quantities) once their stomachs have healed.
You are wise to question yourself and learn about the successes and failures of others before committing yourself to surgery. When your surgery date finally comes, you will feel informed and confident. Good luck.

Speaking from the vantage point of an elder sleever (55+) ... I think the key consideration is that one can simply not hold as much when eating. By that I mean after a lifetime of being heavy and yo-yo results (I personally have lost and gained back the equivalent weight of several small people) its the consummate solution.
In the past, I would simply eat every meal as a giant meal. Buffets, eating out, fast food, heavy calorie deserts (think DQ) ... etc. But now, its simply a physical barrier to 'pigging out'. Mentally, I think those of us on the north side of 55 may have a greater capability of not experiencing mental hunger (or keeping it at bay). Simply because we are so so tired of being obese.
So, the end result of VSG is simple ... we now have a physical throttle to simply force us to stop eating after a small quantity.
To be fair, I am only a couple of months post-op, so perhaps that skews my perspective at this early juncture. I don't anticipate longer-term issues with grazing, and even if I am tempted to snack on something bad down the road, it is simply a physical limitation.
Great question, anxious to hear what others think.
-RC-

I had VSG on March 6th and it was the best thing I could do for myself. After years of yo-yo dieting it was the best tool to help me. Before surgery I was taking 2 blood pressure pills and one for high cholesterol. When discharged from the hospitalI no longer had to take those medications. having the surgery has helped me to eat healthier and I have have lost 56 pounds so far. before surgery not only was I overweight I also was diagnosed with Lupus and fibromyalgia and boarderline diabetic. I think VSG has helped me become more aware of what kind of foods I was eating, I have to have protienm then veggies and drink water! It has helped me make make healthier choices. You will do well! I was second guessing myself, but I am glad I did it.☺ Use the time that you have to research, check out this blog, the members who are here have all been there done that and can help if you have any questions ! Good luck in your journey!

I had VSG on March 6th and it was the best thing I could do for myself. After years of yo-yo dieting it was the best tool to help me. Before surgery I was taking 2 blood pressure pills and one for high cholesterol. When discharged from the hospitalI no longer had to take those medications. having the surgery has helped me to eat healthier and I have have lost 56 pounds so far. before surgery not only was I overweight I also was diagnosed with Lupus and fibromyalgia and boarderline diabetic. I think VSG has helped me become more aware of what kind of foods I was eating, I have to have protienm then veggies and drink water! It has helped me make make healthier choices. You will do well! I was second guessing myself, but I am glad I did it.☺ Use the time that you have to research, check out this blog, the members who are here have all been there done that and can help if you have any questions ! Good luck in your journey!

I had VSG on March 6th and it was the best thing I could do for myself. After years of yo-yo dieting it was the best tool to help me. Before surgery I was taking 2 blood pressure pills and one for high cholesterol. When discharged from the hospitalI no longer had to take those medications. having the surgery has helped me to eat healthier and I have have lost 56 pounds so far. before surgery not only was I overweight I also was diagnosed with Lupus and fibromyalgia and boarderline diabetic. I think VSG has helped me become more aware of what kind of foods I was eating, I have to have protienm then veggies and drink water! It has helped me make make healthier choices. You will do well! I was second guessing myself, but I am glad I did it.☺ Use the time that you have to research, check out this blog, the members who are here have all been there done that and can help if you have any questions ! Good luck in your journey!

It did for me exactly what I wanted it to. I expected to lose 70% of my excess weight. Right now I'm at about 73%. It worked like a charm.
I wanted to be able to easily control my food intake and not have to struggle with some stupid diet that worked short term at best. That worked too. There are many days I sit around and wish that for just one day I could eat everything I wanted. But wasn't that the problem to begin with? Yep. Now I don't worry about Portion Control and self discipline. The sleeve does it for me. I do have to watch the junk food and sweets intake. It's easier to eat more of those things than it is healthier foods. On occasion I gain 3-4 pounds. I make an effort to eat better and the extra pounds go away.
I know I say this a lot, but I cannot stress enough the importance of the emotional and psychological implications of WLS. If you can get pre op counseling then do it and take it seriously. If not read up on the subject and prepare yourself the best you can. It's work to adjust to the sleeve itself and even more work to pull yourself together after your security blanket is gone. The security blanket is food.
You can do it, you'll be a better person because of it, and somewhere along the road you will lose weight and look better than ever. I hope you get everything you want from the decision you make.

I had VSG on March 6th and it was the best thing I could do for myself. After years of yo-yo dieting it was the best tool to help me. Before surgery I was taking 2 blood pressure pills and one for high cholesterol. When discharged from the hospitalI no longer had to take those medications. having the surgery has helped me to eat healthier and I have have lost 56 pounds so far. before surgery not only was I overweight I also was diagnosed with Lupus and fibromyalgia and boarderline diabetic. I think VSG has helped me become more aware of what kind of foods I was eating, I have to have protienm then veggies and drink water! It has helped me make make healthier choices. You will do well! I was second guessing myself, but I am glad I did it.☺ Use the time that you have to research, check out this blog, the members who are here have all been there done that and can help if you have any questions ! Good luck in your journey!

It worked for me because it drastically limits the amount of food I can eat. Because I eat so little, it needs to be of highest quality nutrition. Eating Protein first fills up your sleeve "real estate' to where there is very little room for veggies, so your best option are the non-starchy ones because they are lower in calories and carbs.
While you are waiting to decide, here are the basics of many of our plans that you can get familiar with:
1. Eat mostly Protein, and plenty of it. (gravy does not count as protein)
2. Eat more non-starchy veggies than you used to - the greener, the better.
3. Eat less fruit than you are used to. (apples, not apple pie)
4. Try not to eat starchy and sugary foods. They make you hungry for more starchy & sugary foods. (bread, Pasta, rice, pastries, (usually white in color)
5. As much as possible, avoid foods made in a factory.
6. Drink Water until your eyeballs float.
7. Don't become part of the sofa. (You have no doubt heard of he saying "Dance like nobody's watching".......so at least do that. I crank up the music while I am doing housework - it helps)
One thing I noticed on the pre-op diet was that the best way to reduce salt intake was to not eat the foods that I had a tendancy to put salt on (partucularly potatoes and noodles)
I wish you the best. Delay is not denial.

I found the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury unflavored was better in things that were heated up, like Soup or in something blended like a fruit smoothie (if you're allowed smoothies) or a shake. When you put it in something just to drink, it gets thick and cloudy and you can definitely taste it. It's unflavored, but it's not tasteless.

Put it in a blender with some fresh fruit, a 1/2 banana, Peanut Butter, chocolate, just about anything you can think of...add 8 ozs of almond milk, skim milk, or just Water, and you will have a high Protein, nutritious smoothie to stat the day.....
In the summer, add ice cubes to thicken and cool......

Hang in there! My "demons" were very much still there in my first few weeks after surgery and I definitely found myself worrying that "something was wrong" with ME or my sleeve. Now I am 8 weeks out and I can tell you that my demons are drifting further & further away each day. I will always be aware of them and make sure they don't creep back, but they are soooo much more manageable now.
You have got this, trust yourself and trust the process. This WORKS even when we have occasional "bites" of imperfection. Congratulations and best of luck to you!

My surgeon is/was excellent and I had every confidence in him. That's about where it ends. Most pronounced are the two NUTS in his office, just wack-a-doos, All of my time with them has been...interesting. My two nutrition classes were dominated by PATIENTS who wanted to discuss when they could drink alcohol again, and all sorts of other ridiculous crap that was just a waste of time. I will certainly see MY surgeon in the future when/if I have any questions or concerns, but after my 8 week check I am pretty much done with the rest.

First, anytime you are referring to weight from here on out, remove the word "only" from your vocabulary. ANY weight lost is a victory and success. Celebrate it! Second, you shouldn't listen or care what other people think. Even your mom. Easier said than done, I know. But this is YOUR journey and you cannot make your body lose faster than it already is as long as you are following the rules. Third, you will hit multiple stalls and you need to be mentally prepared for that. I'm 4 1/2 months post op and I just had my first week where I GAINED weight. I didn't cry. I didn't freak out. Why? I had been out of town all week and did a horrible job of getting my fluids in.
Also, at your stage I was still battling extreme fatigue, depression and figuring out how to get calories in. The few calories you're eating combined with the level of working out you're doing could cause slower weight loss. I would recommend going back to your team and asking about your diet and exercise. I personally did very low carb the first 3 months then my doctor had me add some healthy carbs in.
Keep your chin up and take it day by day. You'll make it to your goal. But it won't happen over just one month.

I am from Ocean County NJ- and my surgery date is March 5th... I have been going to all the drs that I have to and met with the nutrionist for my first meeting. My sugery will be in Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin. I cannot wait for the surgery to start on a new me!

I have a wonderful rebuttal but it's not appropriate here.
Okay...I can lose weight, your thing will always be small.

@@Elizabethe Glickel you are going to do great! Its not a picnic in the park but it just wasn't THAT bad either, very manageable. There are some great nurses there, Robert and Jill are RN's and the sweetest one ever is Nurse Assistant Dayse (reminds me of Salma Hyack). I had a BIG fear of being able to tolerate my liquids and so far it has been good. Just start off SLOW and build up.

I am having mine in Manahawkin on the 5th- next week! I hope to be as successful as everyone else !
=

Don't listen, they are wrong!!! You are going to be so very proud of yourself when you do all it takes to change your life and your sense of self worth, only YOU can prove them wrong.

you look awesome! I hope to have the same success you have, I am getting sleeved on 3/6.

I worked out every single day of 2014 as a challenge. I was lifting weights 2-3 days per week and doing yoga once a week and running all other days. Lots of body weight exercises (burpees, yoga, push-ups,planks, etc) will have you toned up in no time! Consistency is key.

My pre op diet includes 4 eight ounce Protein Shakes per day (at least two made with skim milk)
and then AT LEAST 6 servings from the following:
1/2 cup grits, oatmeal or cream of wheat
8 ounces vegetable juice
3 ounces of grilled steamed or poached chicken, fish or egg whites
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
5-6 ounces greek yogurt, LF such as dannon light & fit greek (my favorite and only 80 cal)
1 cup raw veg/lettuces, FF dressing
SF Jello or ice pops
and of course the obligatory 64 ounces of fluids
My surgeon requires BMI's under 45 to do this for 1 week pre op. BMI's over 45 do it for 2 weeks.
14 days of just liquids, wow that would be so hard for me with the "hungry girl" tummy I currently have!!
I just started my diet today but have been really "winding down" for weeks now. I can do my pre op NP but I really feel for those who are on the much stricter pre op!!! Warm HUGGGGS and YOU CAN DO IT!!

*Checks InItToWinIt2015's profile*
Surgery date: February 24th, 2015
For someone who hasn't even HAD the surgery yet, you sure know a lot about it?
Stop being all judgey and mean. We are all in this together.
Just sayin.

So what plans do you have to keep yourself from "cheating" every day post op? Since you are choosing to go against your doctor's orders your medical well being is obviously not a priority. If you aren't already, you probably need to see a therapist to deal with your food issues because you will be hungry after surgery, too. There's really nothing but your head keeping you from eating whatever you want and either not reaching goal or gaining weight back after you do lose it.

Yeah 4 shakes is a lot to get down. However it's awesome you get chicken or fish even just a taste ! Just keep trying. Keep what you can have at the front of the fridge...so when you open it that's the first thing you see. I've literally lost it on everyone from hunger and I'm staying away from people including family as much as possible. They were eating BALLPARK NACHOS right in front of me yesterday while I drank broth! :/ but it's the same family I want to be canoeing with and fitting in a kayak come summertime! So I'm gonna keep going!