RaginCajun

What an awesome 'new you' to go with the 'new year' -RC-

Hi All - I was pondering what we might call the universe of those of us who ventured into the journey of weight loss surgery, specifically those of us who got sleeved. 'Constipation Nation' comes to mind (yuck yuck) but it doesn't get to the heart of our struggle, journey, and new life. Any suggestions? -RC-

Nah, not the same at all. Band wasn't really a great solution. Slow weight loss, and physical hunger didn't go away (which does during first 12-18 months VSG post op due to elimination of grellin (sp?) production. Plus, you gotta go see doc every month for adjustment (high on-going cost). And, as compared to GBP, with VSG you don't have the malabsorption and other longer term problems. Certainly, there will one day be some knew approach, but for now, I am told that for any 10 given WLS patients: 1-2 will be GBP, 2-3 may be BAND, but 6-8 will be VSG. -RC-

Awesome! -RC-

Hey, its been SIX MONTHS now ... give us an update! -RC-

Ok, so I'm a guy no pregnancy worries. But, lets just say my 'Water bottle' has doubled in proportion since pre-op, and its not just a weight loss thing. Who'da thunk it? -RC-

Here's a crazy thought >>> just drink a freakin' soda and move on LOL! -RC-

Reading your post made me want to cry. I would imagine most of us here couldn't even imagine what it feels like to be on the other end of the weight paradigm and the personal pain it brings. You must have had some f*cked up parents or siblings. I can relate tho, I was the baby of 4, and my closest sibling - who watched me after school at home, we were latch key kids of the 70s - just tortured me about food (your a fat slob, you asked for ice cream last night at the dinner table, you go stay in your room). GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU WILL BEAT THIS!!!!!!!! -RC-

Ok, so I'm a guy and will simply say this: YOU LOOK SMOKIN' HOT! Congrats on the great result. I wish some of the women who have big struggles and feel like quitting could see how the journey CAN END. -RC-

AWESOME! -RC-

Haters gonna hate, but time heals all. You were brave, she isn't there yet. In reality, she is mad at herself, and you were simply in the way of the bullets. -RC-

I have a theory to share, based upon my own journey. Before WLS surgery, one of the issues is that we are in denial so we go around looking at the world from the inside of a fat person thru the eyes of a skinny person. After WLS surgery, we are so guilty of where we ended up (sort of the 'rock bottom' when we decided to have the WLS) that we have a REAL hard time seeing the world from the eyes of a much less heavy (dare I say normal) person. GREAT IRONY THERE! -RC-

To be honest, as long as you are not grazing all day and the food you eat isn't ultra high carb or ultra high fat, your body would laugh at you if it knew you thought eating a special thing was cheating. And, if its a rare and not daily occurrence, your fine!!! -RC-

You might be nervous, but let me tell you that 2 weeks of hell will jump start aggressive weight loss like you can't believe. My Doc had me doing these shakes that were just nasty. Instead of 4-5 a day, I could only do 3. And, when I drank them, I held my nose, guzzled them down, and then washed my mouth out to remote the taste with Crystal Light Lemonade. I lost 32 lbs in just those 2 weeks. PS The comment above that its the first 3 days thats the worst is spot on, around day 4 your body adjusts and its just a 'ritual'. -RC-

Awesome! I had the same feeling of joy when I could put my socks on without contorting my body LOL! -RC-

ALIVE -RC-

To be quite honest, I don't think a doctor would actually remember what you looked like from the last time, they typically only have the weight loss data to go by. Perhaps you should ask for a copy of your chart and make sure the right weight was recorded. And, you might compare his attitude about you this date to all of the other follow up appointments you have had (1 month, 2, month, 3 month, etc.). Or, maybe he is just a prick! Or, his ex-wife just won a HUGE divorce settlement! -RC-

I agree with all of the above posts. 1200 calories is too much, unless you work out a LOT and/or have a job/occupation where you are burning lots of calories. Now, for most folks who have WLS, its inherent that they don't get so much exercise or activity that we can't handle daily intake of 700-900 calories (a few exceptions). The other spot on comment is the carbs, at your post op point, you should be consuming less than 70 carbs a day. You also mention being hungry. Because the VSG cuts away 85-90 percent of your stomach, the chemical which produces physical hunger named grellin (sp?) is eliminated for 12-18 months post-op. At that point, your body figures out what happened and adjusts. Until then - quite a way downstream for you - there simply should not be physical hunger in play, if you are eating the right balance of high Protein and low carb. So, if you believe that feeling hungry is a component of your lack of success, then its likely that other factors are at work. The hunger issue is key. WLS is not a solution, it is a tool in the tool box. In fact, it serves a single purpose - to keep you from eating too much at a single sitting. But, if you eat small portions throughout the day (called 'grazing') you won't lose weight. That is a fact. Please do take these comments to heart, as all of us WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!!!!! -RC-

I think Yaberhoo is spot on. Either she is heavy also and will feel threatened by the 'new you' or she is not heavy and will feel threatened by the 'new you'. Perhaps she understands that you have the more engaging personality and when you achieve a body to go with that, you will go places she just can't go. Either way, some folks are just 'stuck on stupid' ... -RC-

Thats great news and you are off to an awesome start. VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure you start getting your liquids. If you don't, onset of constipation and gout will follow. -RC-

What a great NSV, more to come! -RC-

Hi Maggie - The great thing about getting sleeved is that when 85% of your stomach is removed, the chemical 'grellin' (sp?) is non-existant. That chemical is what creates physical hunger. Know This: After your surgery, you will not be hungry. At least not actual physical hunger. Prepare yourself to combat 'head hunger' because that is the real issue post-op. Conquer that demon and you will be successful. You will make it! -RC-

Congrats!!!! -RC-

Looking good -RC

Maybe seek a second opinion? -RC