SleevePerry

I smoked over a pack a day for nearly 30 years, and was required to be nicotine-free 3 months prior to my surgery. I was also not permitted to gain weight during this time. I used Chantix and then the patch for about 2 months, I worked out, I ate well, and I was successful. I'm now about 18 months quit and feel great. I get tempted from time to time, but I don't ever want to have to quit smoking again, so I refuse to slip. I did it and so can you. Best of luck! It's really, really worth it, I promise!

Almost 11 months post-op, from 252 to 175. Have been stalled for some time (at least 3 months, perhaps longer), but I'm running 5 miles at a decent 11 minute pace, and feel outstanding. These pics help to make me feel better about my accomplishments as well.

I am coming up on 8 months and haven't lost any hair.

Using saline spray (non-medicated, regular saline spray) every couple hours will help you to kick the cold much faster. No one likes squirting the salt Water up their nose, but it really will clear things out for you ASAP (I worked for Ear Nose and Throat docs for 8 years, so believe that I know what I'm talking about). That, and drink a TON of water. Stay super hydrated. Eat spicy foods, super hot Soup, tea, etc. Take a hot shower or bath. Sweat that baby out. Good luck! PS - I felt a cold coming on yesterday, started the saline regimen and am already on the mend.

My doc said to follow the 30/30 plan, with nothing to drink 30 minutes before or after eating. I followed this plan for about 3 months. Then, in speaking with my friend who was much further out than I, I began following her plan, which allowed for her to drink right up until the moment she began eating, but to have nothing to drink for 30 minutes after eating. This works well for me when I'm out socially. When I'm at work or at home, I still try to wait 15 minutes after drinking to eat anything, and I always wait 30 minutes after eating before drinking anything.

Every doc is different, it seems. My doc wouldn't allow E-Cigs, Nicotine Gum or the patch, as she said nicotine alone would affect post-operative healing and would cause ulcers as time went on. I had to quit cold turkey. It sucked and it was hard, but I did it. You can do it too, if that's the route you wish to take. Good luck!

My closet is under KerrieDC. I've made about 5k over the last 18 months.

I had to quit several months before surgery to assist with the healing process. Doc said that smoking after surgery would give me ulcers. Take the $$$ you're saving on cigs and buy yourself some new threads.

I call mine Sleeve Perry.

The book is called The Game, written by Neil Strauss, documenting his time as a Pickup Artist with Pickup Artist Guru, Mystery. Neil Strauss has since married and says that he wishes he'd never written such hooey.

@@Inner Surfer Girl I didn't know that about low fat dairy and cheeses. Thanks! That's very helpful!

@@OutsideMatchInside Thanks! Aside from my Sugarfree vanilla Coffeemate, I eat pretty darn clean. But yeah, I should try to cut that out. I'll need to sub half and half or table cream in its place; regular or almond milk just doesn't do it for me - I like my coffee uber-light. And I have those Sargento thin sliced cheeses. They're delish.

@@TakeitorSleeveit YOU'RE the one who's doing great! Killing it! I was at 700 calories right after pureeds, and balked when my doc increased my calories to 1000. And, even though I'm now wondering if I can go over those 1000 calories, I do wonder if I would have lost a bit more had we kept me at 700 calories until I'd also lost 75% of my excess weight.

@@JamieLogical - THANK YOU! My nutritionist was not exactly the best, so I'm not completely listening to her either; if I were, I'd be having Cheerios and canteloupe for Breakfast right now. I love the idea of not being a slave to a daily calorie count, and that makes total sense. I followed a high Protein, low carb diet for several years, was 30 pounds lighter than I am at present, and easily maintained that weight. I'll make an effort to focus more on protein, and not worry so much about going over the calories my surgeon allotted. Thanks again!

Thanks, @@jenn1 - my main fats have been cheese, avocado and olive oil. I was just noticing that those full fat items are higher calorie than their low fat siblings, and I'm starting to struggle to keep my calories under 1000. I'm not going wildly over (think: 1085 calories), but I'm pretty strict with myself when given parameters to adhere to. Also: your transformation is incredibly inspiring. I can only hope to be as successful!

Do you have any recs as to which Tanita model? The prices are REALLY varied, and I'm wondering if this is a "you get what you pay for" situation...

I'm 4.5 months post op and doing pretty well. I've dropped 58 pounds in total, 48 since surgery. Currently, I'm losing at a snail's pace. I've lost nothing in the last week and a half, and had maybe lost a pound the week prior? Which is fine - not ideal, but fine. I'm keeping track of all of my meals via My Fitness Pal (Doc has me on 1000 calories/day) and am running 2.5 miles/4-5 times per week. I'm sure I hope the weight will come off eventually. Gah. I'm having a hard time deciding what diet to follow - low carb or low fat. It seems that lower carb food items are higher in calories and in fat content, and low fat items are higher in carb and calorie counts. So, if I were to buy creamer for my coffee, I will stand at the refrigerated case and agonize over whether to buy the fat free creamer or the sugarfree creamer (interestingly enough, the creamers that are fat free AND sugarfree are twice the carbs). When I buy cheese, I debate on the full fat vs the reduced fat, the fats vs the carbs. Also, because my calories are being restricted to 1000/day (and I EASILY use THEM ALL), buying the full fat food means I will have to eat less, whereas buying the reduced fat food puts me over an ideal carb count. What diet do you all follow? Low carb? Low fat? Little of both? I know that some of you have a hard time getting more than 700 calories a day in, but please don't make me feel like a piggy by pointing out to me how much more I eat than you. Also, I'm including a recent before/after pic. I'm pretty happy with my results thus far, I just want to make the most of this surgery and lose as much weight as I can within the confines of the "Honeymoon Period." I still have about 70 pounds to lose, and would appreciate any advice you all have to help me on my way!

Here's my latest Before/After. Down 58 pounds, but even better? I can run 2.5 miles WITHOUT STOPPING. Feeling pretty darn fantastic and, yes, very proud. Woot!

And modest. Don't forget modest. You know what? Nothing wrong with a bit of immodesty. I, for one, am lovely. And brilliant. As, I'm sure, are all of you.

This is so mean and hurtful. That post was about me celebrating my success and being thrilled about what I've accomplished. It was about self love and worth. How does it help you too tell me my posts suck? I would never say something like that to anyone! I didn't say your posts suck. They do come off as being posted by an insecure person that is attention seeking. People that are secure in themselves do seek validation in others the way you do. The way you responded to criticism in this thread just illustrates it. Um? Yeah, you kind of did. Perhaps you had not intended to insult, but it most certainly could have been phrased in a less insulting manner.

I know that everyone is different. For me, I would have to give the surgery a lot more credit than 30%. I've lost weight and regained it all my life. Without the surgery, I was going to keep getting bigger and bigger. I know that I will have to put in effort to keep the weight off after I lose it. Just not sure how I could give surgery less than 100% credit since I know that I couldn't be successful without it. You are correct - we are all different. VSG is helping me to not overeat, but I've never been much of a big eater, with respect to volume. My weight has more to do with the types of food I had been eating: sugars, carbs, saturated fats. In hindsight, it probably would have made more sense for me to get RNY (because Sugar = Dumping). Today, I am 100% dictating what I'm putting in my body at this time, and I am 100% forcing this body to exercise. With my selected healthy food choices, VSG dictates the quantity I'm able to consume. And, yes, it's helpful. But, FOR ME, VSG would be pretty ineffective without my hard work as contribution.

I'm 44 and just had VSG in June. My BMI in my early 40s was around 38, so I didn't qualify. Wish I had! Still, it's a great feeling to actually be getting BETTER WITH AGE. Woot!

I tell them that I eat 1000 calories a day and that I work off 500 of those calories, which is completely true. I'm busting my arse! I don't really feel the need to note the surgery, in that I feel that my weight loss is 30% surgery (if that) and 70% hard work (if not more).

I try to weigh and measure, but will occasionally record "guesstimates" in MyFitnessPal. I typically try to round up in these recordings, so that I'm under, not over, my daily calorie allotment. One good thing about MFP is that most item are broken down by cups, ounces, tablespoons, so you do not have to do any conversions on your own.