MzB

I'm not really tracking anything because I eat so little. Once I got onto regularl food I just stuck to Protein, like meat, cheese and eggs. So I might have an egg and some bacon for Breakfast. A few crackers with Peanut Butter for lunch and then try to eat a normal dinner. Of course I use a kids plate and even then I can't finish it.
Congrats on almost reaching your goal as well!

First off, congratulations on hitting the 1/2 way mark! (I just noticed your ticker...) Your body has lost a lot of weight and now that you are lighter it is going to take more effort to lose those pounds. Before just moving that 100 extra pounds on a daily basis made your body work harder than it it has to now. (That is totally a good thing by the way... )
Are you tracking your Protein consumption? I know it isn't that much fun, but the food tracking apps (fitness pal for example) are really helpful to making sure you are getting all your Protein in. I was told protein makes a big difference in your body burning fat versus muscle and not enough protein can cause slower weight loss. I'm not totally sure if that is totally accurate but I am all for following the standards. I get the struggle with fluids, I find it challenging as well. There are days when I get busy at work and realized I haven't gotten any drinks in for most of the day. However, I have found that I just don't feel as well if I don't get the fluids in.
I don't think it would hurt to do a day or so on your pre-op diet to see if you can get things kick-started again, but I wouldn't do it for very long. The biggest thing is to trust your surgeon's plan and stick to it. It is hard to break our mindset of wanting to make this like all our other diets, but remember this is for the long haul, not the quick fix. Stalls will happen....

Patience Grasshopper....I didn't lose much weight in first few weeks. I think it was like 4-5 pounds total while only eating an average of 300-400 calories. Most of this was probably due to swelling and healing so I didn't sweat it too much. You shouldn't either.
The first few weeks are tough because of your body is recovering. Even if you lost a lot in the first week, you body is now probably saying "???? is going on? I had better hang on to Water and stuff as a safe guard!" Then your body figures out that this is the new normal and starts to release the fat for consumption. That is my take on the "3-week stall", it may not be totally accurate, but it helps me get my head around what my body is doing. Hope this helps.

Sleeved on May 26, down 48 pounds as of this weekend. Just took out a bunch of clothes from the "doesn't fit" closet and put it in my official closet! A few pairs of pants are still a teeny weeny bit tight in the tummy, but a week or two should fix that. It's such an amazing feeling to bring out the clothes I saved but haven't actually worn in years!

First off, congratulations on hitting the 1/2 way mark! (I just noticed your ticker...) Your body has lost a lot of weight and now that you are lighter it is going to take more effort to lose those pounds. Before just moving that 100 extra pounds on a daily basis made your body work harder than it it has to now. (That is totally a good thing by the way... )
Are you tracking your Protein consumption? I know it isn't that much fun, but the food tracking apps (fitness pal for example) are really helpful to making sure you are getting all your Protein in. I was told protein makes a big difference in your body burning fat versus muscle and not enough protein can cause slower weight loss. I'm not totally sure if that is totally accurate but I am all for following the standards. I get the struggle with fluids, I find it challenging as well. There are days when I get busy at work and realized I haven't gotten any drinks in for most of the day. However, I have found that I just don't feel as well if I don't get the fluids in.
I don't think it would hurt to do a day or so on your pre-op diet to see if you can get things kick-started again, but I wouldn't do it for very long. The biggest thing is to trust your surgeon's plan and stick to it. It is hard to break our mindset of wanting to make this like all our other diets, but remember this is for the long haul, not the quick fix. Stalls will happen....

Patience Grasshopper....I didn't lose much weight in first few weeks. I think it was like 4-5 pounds total while only eating an average of 300-400 calories. Most of this was probably due to swelling and healing so I didn't sweat it too much. You shouldn't either.
The first few weeks are tough because of your body is recovering. Even if you lost a lot in the first week, you body is now probably saying "???? is going on? I had better hang on to Water and stuff as a safe guard!" Then your body figures out that this is the new normal and starts to release the fat for consumption. That is my take on the "3-week stall", it may not be totally accurate, but it helps me get my head around what my body is doing. Hope this helps.

I am assuming that you are getting in all the Protein and fluids you should. (everyone always says that first...) Even then, stalls will happen. Just stay the course and stick to your basics. The weight should start to come off again. Also, have you added in exercise? I was also sleeved in May have have noticed a slow down in weight loss in the last few weeks. I figure it is time to up the exercise level.
Good Luck.

Oh, good grief.
Google "three week stall."
This happens to everyone somewhere around 2-4 weeks. Everyone! EVERYONE!
Surely no one promised you you'd lose at a regular clip or that your scales would behave like a car's gasoline gauge. Because you won't and it won't. Your body is a lot more complicated than that.
You're doing fine except for going all drama llama.

I had VSG surgery on August 18, 2014 -- one year and two weeks ago. Today I met with my bariatric P.A. for my one-year post-op review. She's extremely sharp and keeps up to date on bariatric surgery post-treatments, nutrition, behavioral issues and emerging news. She attends bariatric conferences often and reads all the new studies.
She was the one who encouraged me at four months post-op to move from 800 calories/day to 1,000 calories by Month Six and to 1,200 calories by Month Eight. She said that would help me to prevent my metabolism from accustoming itself to the very low calorie post-op menus we are restricted to with tiny, swollen stomachs.
Apparently, it worked: I am maintaining a 143 pound weight and eating 1,700 calories a day.
I've had an exceptional Year One. I've reached my weight loss goal and am 7 pounds lower than that. I feel great. My blood panel test results are 100% great. No shortages at all. In my opinion I've done everything right. I eat 3 meals and 2 Snacks. I don't graze. I eat nutritious food. Most days my Protein grams hit or exceed 100. I typically eat 5 healthy vegetables and fruits each day and eat at least 21 grams of Fiber (the daily requirement for women). My muscle mass is exceptional for my age (I'm almost 70). I no longer need knee replacement surgery. I walk most days, do yoga and strength training.
So today what I really wanted to know and what I asked her were these questions, along with her answers:
1. What should I expect during Year Two?
You've done really well with weight loss surgery. You've already been maintaining your weight for the last 4 months. In Year Two you can expect more of the very same challenges you've already been dealing with since you reached goal -- planning and eating nutritious meals, focusing on regular exercise, not overeating, and staying focused and motivated. It's important to stay connected to us if you have any questions or changes in how you feel or your health. Staying connected to us is one of the best things you can do. All the research shows that you're much more likely to be successful long-term if you don't "fade" away and try to deal with all the challenges you're having by yourself.
(That made me feel pretty good. )
2. During Year Two, will my body start to produce and release more ghrelin and will my pre-op hunger levels return?
No, the ghrelin doesn't come back. Yes, I know that myth is out there and considered to be true. But it's not true. Yes, you may experience "head hunger" or boredom that could lead you to start eating food full of empty calories that don't help you achieve satiety. And eating those empty "slider" calories will make you want more of them. That's the same "head hunger" challenge you've always had to contend with. Again, no, the ghrelin doesn't "grow back."
(Needless to say, her predictions about ghrelin not coming back just thrilled the hell out of me!)
3. Will my metabolism lower for any reasons, requiring me to eat less?
Not unless you stop exercising or your muscle mass goes down significantly. Also, you're already eating "good" foods, not high-sugar, high-carb foods. The nutritious foods you're eating (protein, veggies, fibrous fruits, whole grain foods) require your body to work harder to digest them. A diet high in slider foods (chips, Cookies, candy, ice cream, sugary drinks) wouldn't make those digestive and metabolic demands of your body. Just keep doing what you're doing now, and your metabolism should remain the same.
(Whew!)
I know that only time will tell how I do. But I now feel like I have a very good chance of keeping my weight down and remaining slim and healthy going forward. BTW, she told me about patients of hers who are 5 and 6 years out who are as slim now as they were when they first reached their weight goals.
So take that, b*****s!
:)

Thank you all for the feedback. I went to the doctor yesterday afternoon and he diagnosed it is an allergic reaction to the Omeprazole they put me on for acid reflux. They gave me two types of steroids in an injection and I feel much better today. My lips were actually starting to swell and get bumpy which made me (and the doc) think that it was a reaction. I just started taking the Omeprazole (first time I had ever taken it as well) the middle of last week. So it makes sense. I am taking Benadryl as well to help it along.

I agree with OutsideMatchInside. I have been surprised at how much drier my skin is now even with getting all of my fluids in. Lotion and oil are your friend. I am 14 weeks out and still use lotion/body butter about once a week. Also, it is very hot in Texas right now (just in case you hadn't noticed.. haha. That could be further drying out your skin.

@@Gaelsmom - IMO Soup is a "slider" and you can probably "drink" two cups of Water as well as eat two cups of soup. Watch the calories, carbs and sodium. I would say the swelling ankles are due to the salt.
Water, water, water, walk, walk, walk......

Mine was dry skin. I was itching all over. I was putting lotion on 3x a day. Once I was able to get all my Water in for a couple weeks, it stopped.

@@sbg224 -
Hang in there. The weight will come off. One thing that others have said, and I am finding to be true is that this is a marathon, not a sprint. I know those first few weeks it feels like a sprint and everything is measured in days, but remember this is for life, the weight will come off! After you get past two months it starts to feel more normal, but like I said. Stalls will happen. In those moments of "WTF?" Just take a deep breath and remind yourself it is going to be alright. Stick to the mantra - Protein first and get in all your liquids. I have been surprised at how much more liquid my body needs now. ????. Good luck on your journey.

For me: I have just past the 3 month mark (surgery was May 18). The first few weeks were tough because of my internal stitch pulling, but at the 3-4 week mark it just popped and everything got much better. No real nausea and I could do liquids pretty easily so that was a blessing. However, I didn't lose much weight in first few weeks. I think it was like 4-5 pounds. Most of this was probably due to swelling and healing so I didn't sweat it too much. I was even able to do a trip to Mexico City for work without any issues (I did take some Protein mixes as back up in case the food wasn't going to work).
July was a bit more challenging as I hit my first real stall. Thanks to everyone on this board posting about stalls, I didn't panic and kept to my plan. After about 1 1/2 weeks I suddenly started losing again. Yea! Also, I started telling people that I had the surgery, but only if they ask. I did tell my family after the 6 week mark just because I hate that feeling of being evasive when they know something is going on. I had wanted to wait until I was past the most risky time for complications so they wouldn't worry as much. Everyone seems fine with it, but if they aren't I have decided just to shrug and keep moving. It isn't their life and they don't have to live with it so their opinion isn't really that important. Not thumbing my nose at them, just deciding not to let it bother me.
August has seen some good changes and a little bit of a concern. I hit Onedurland on my 3 month surgerversary, which is a total loss of 57 pounds. I have also dropped several sizes which lead to a closet purge and a day of trying stuff on. That totally counts as a NSV in my world. People have really started to notice and are asking me what I am doing. If they ask me directly I am honest. I also try to say that there are other ways to lose weight and just doing a high Protein - low carb approach can work just as well. I just knew I wouldn't be able to stick to it. I think I am really helping out the sales of Premier Protein which seem to be flying off the shelves of my Sam's and costco. Maybe I should ask to be a sales rep. The one concern I have is rather recent, and I am not really sure if it is a real concern at the point. Over the last week I have noticed an increase in what might be a little bit of heart burn. I am really hoping that I don't get GERD from this so I am watching it closely. I was taking pepcid for the first 3 months on DR. orders (I also had a hiatial hernia fixed when they did the VSG) so I just went off it recently. The other thing is a small pain just to the left of my belly button. This just started in the last few days so I am going to watch it and talk to to the PA about it next week if it doesn't go away. I should be well past the point of having stitches pull or anything like that.
I still struggle with eating out and limiting carbs (insert Mexican restaurant chips here...). I am also still figuring out how to fit in exercise but that has always been a challenge for me.
Anyway, I would love to hear how this journey is going for everyone else. I know it isn't the same for everyone and I love to hear the different perspectives. It helps so much to know you aren't in this alone.

I went back after one week, but I did wear a binder which really helped my poor abs make it through the day.

People didn't start noticing my weight loss until I'd lost like 60 pounds. Oh sure, the ones that knew would comment about it, but people who didn't know never said a word. And when I would ask if they noticed, they would say the same thing as her..."You look the same to me" I would have gone around and been mad at EVERYBODY all the time otherwise!
Don't be mad at her because she didn't notice your weight loss. I don't think her intentions were to disrespect you at all. She was very complimentary otherwise.
How can you be mad at someone for something they don't even know they did?
We kind of started with the same stats. Expect people to really start to notice at another 20 pounds.

I also drink through straws without an issue, but I was careful for the first 6 weeks. Also, I found a CamelBak Water bottle (Eddy model if you are looking online) that had a built in straw which didn't cause me to suck air (bite closure). It has made a world of difference getting in the fluids each day. You might try that as a compromise if you don't feel comfortable just doing straws.

I also drink through straws without an issue, but I was careful for the first 6 weeks. Also, I found a CamelBak Water bottle (Eddy model if you are looking online) that had a built in straw which didn't cause me to suck air (bite closure). It has made a world of difference getting in the fluids each day. You might try that as a compromise if you don't feel comfortable just doing straws.

I also drink through straws without an issue, but I was careful for the first 6 weeks. Also, I found a CamelBak Water bottle (Eddy model if you are looking online) that had a built in straw which didn't cause me to suck air (bite closure). It has made a world of difference getting in the fluids each day. You might try that as a compromise if you don't feel comfortable just doing straws.

I'm not one to tell people to go against their surgeons orders, BUT.....
I've used a straw from almost day 1, and know a lot of other sleevers who do on this site.
Sometimes when surgeons differ opinions about something (like the straw thing), I find it's best to do what works for you. If you find using a straw puts way too much air in your sleeve and gives you gas or makes you feel bloated, by all means don't use it. I've never had any problems.

@@MzB - unfortunately I learned my lesson with the shaker too late! I don't know why I didn't realize that would happen.. But I, too, was cleaning up a mess all over the kitchen, haha

I had my surgery this past Monday. Surgery at 6:30 am and released by 2:00 pm. My surgeon does all of his surgeries at his outpatient facility.
I had a wonderful experience and was much happier to be recovering in my own home/bed than a hospital.
I lived about 45 miles from the facility and had no issues in the car on the way home. Took a dose of pain medicine before leaving and had a pillow against my stomach.
Good luck with your journey!

I bought one in Amazon. I was done as an out patient so I didn't get one as part of my surgery. The one I got was One of the ones they say is good for post c-sections. It wasn't expensive and it arrived in just a Few days. Huge difference in my ability to get through a day at work. I went back to work after a week and with the binder could make it all day without an issue. I forgot one day and I was in pretty good pain by the end of the day. No one could tell I had it on under my clothes.

But I'm really proud that I can once again wear my old Army uniform