GBLady41

10 hours ago, SunnyinSC said:

I'm fairly new here, but you did make a lot of definitive statements in your original posting. You claimed it's not about calories, but about energy. That 1000 calories a day aren't needed to survive. And that people don't feel actual hunger when they're eating at a calorie deficit (IE losing weight). You lead with the statement "...when you're losing weight, your body is not hungry."

When you're posting in a thread about how people's actual hunger keeps getting dismissed as head hunger, even though it's perfectly normal to experience actual hunger after surgery; then it seems like you are applying your experience to everyone, even if that was not your intention. That ends up feeding into the very problem the initial rant was about.

My "definitive" statements had everything to do with my experience. Believe me, if I wanted to apply what I have gone through to everyone, I would have.

I was explaining what has happened to me, what I have learned through my own experience about what head hunger is for me. What I have learned that is the difference between when my body is happy receiving Protein and what's going on chemically in my brain when I crave carbs or sweets.

I don't need 1000 calories to thrive. I never have, even before I had weight loss surgery. And I don't get hungry. I never said that no one gets hungry. I said I don't experience actual hunger. I have a schedule that lets me know when to eat. There are weight loss patients who experience this, sometimes for the rest of their lives. I have read way too many posts about people who had surgery over 15 years ago who still don't feel actual hunger. That means that when they had surgery, it affected ghrelin, which is what causes one to receive the signal in their brain that they are hungry (the stomach growling, etc.) If I don't have a schedule, I can go for hours without eating, only experiencing extreme tiredness.

So, for me, I know the difference between real hunger, which I don't have, and head hunger, or emotional eating. When I lost weight after surgery, I was not hungry. My body was fulfilled with what I ate everyday. I got in more than the suggested protein and fluids. Not only that, I was exercising 5 to 6 days a week, weight training and cardio. My body simply burnt off what it no longer needed. I was not dieting. I was eating the most important calories.

Recently, with the pandemic, I allowed bad habits to return to my life. I compromised, and gained weight. Even though it's been more than 4 years since I had surgery, I still don't need anywhere near 1000 calories, proven by eating that amount or more, and gaining weight. So, now I am breaking those bad habits and going back to getting the right calories, not giving in to emotional eating. Going back to eating on a schedule, so that even if I'm not exercising as much as I used to, I will still lose weight, because I have done away with empty calories and only eat until I get the first feeling of fullness. I allowed the pandemic to get the best of me. But my tool still works. And I will use it.

9 hours ago, summerset said:

You're frustrated, offended and angry because people don't take what you write as gospel but call you out on your unscientific and unproven statements.

Claiming you're not frustrated, offended and angry? Well, you don't give the impression that you're not.

Actually, you seem to be frustrated, offended and angry for the same reasons you're accusing me of. Interesting...

By the way, most of you are not talking about scientific or proven statements. You're talking about your experiences.

2 hours ago, summerset said:

lol

Calm dawn, ok?

I am calm. How about you calm down? 😉😎

4 hours ago, Circus321 said:

I think she meant that you were assuming that your personal experiences apply to everybody. That might be your experience but not everybody experiences the same things after wls. You will feel both real hunger and head hunger as you’re losing weight, it’s part of the process. Your body has to be hungry in order to consume your fat. She meant that calling any hunger someone experiences on their weight loss journey “head hunger” is frustrating because our bodies are actually hungry too.

I understand what you meant about not all calories being equal but even if you’re only eating good calories you’re still experiencing a caloric deficit (which is necessary to lose weight) and will thus feel actual hunger. As well as the head hunger from not eating as much/the same things as you used to.

I don’t know why people are so easily offended and wanting to fight on these forums. Maybe it’s because we’re all hungry all the time 😂

First of all, I didn't assume anything. I also know that my experience is not everybody else's experience. I never said it was. I don't feel actual hunger. That's my experience. I only experience head hunger, and it's always for the wrong food.

You are assuming that everybody feels both types of hunger. Everybody doesn't. So while I actually wasn't assuming anything, you are.

I'm not offended. I'm frustrated at being accused of something that other people are actually doing.

2 hours ago, summerset said:

Don't bet on it.

Boredom eating (or any emotional eating for that matter) is alive in practically everyone. This "food for fuel only" schlock is only the wet dream of the dieting/WLS community.

"Elimination" of emotional eating is just not possible. Also, physical and emotional hunger are entangled all too often. When I e. g. eat after a complicated intervention that lasted for hours I'm usually eating out of both physical hunger (it's afternoon and lunch is like really late) and emotional reason (need for relaxation) and I'm definitely not in the mood then to analyze and evaluate what "might be the stronger reason for eating" or "if I should've eaten something different" or "if I should've stopped eating earlier" or "if I should've eaten at all before having done a meditation session to relax" or whatever.

Does it seem like calories are over the top? Was it an out-of-control-binge? No? Then I won't waste another thought on it.

Elimination of emotional eating is very possible. Has nothing to do with wet dreams. Thanks. Since I don't get hungry, I only deal with emotional eating. At the end of the day, it's a choice. Either I emotionally eat or I don't. No spell involved. I'm in control. I'm dealing with the underlying reasons why I feel the need to emotionally eat. And as I deal with that, I say no now. I drink more water/fluids.

16 hours ago, Jaelzion said:

Yah. And "It's not about calories, it's about energy"? Calories are literally a unit of energy. That's what a calorie is.

cal·o·rie

/ˈkal(ə)rē/

Learn to pronounce

noun

1. 1.

   the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of Water through 1 °C (now usually defined as 4.1868 joules).
2. 2.

   the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of Water through 1 °C, equal to one thousand small calories and often used to measure the energy value of foods.

It's about the type of calories. Not all calories have the same energy or benefit our bodies the same way. That's what I meant by that, which is pretty self-explanatory. chips don't give the same amount of energy as Protein does. And depending on the protein, you can intake less calories eating protein than you would eating chips. More energy. Less calories.

21 hours ago, summerset said:

Some pretty steep assumptions. Like... just wow.

It's not assumptions. It's my life. There's nothing wow about it. I'm living it. Don't you DARE attempt to lessen my experience. Wow for your life. Thanks

17 hours ago, Creekimp13 said:

Drives me crazy when people call every kind of hunger "head hunger." Head hunger is when you've just eaten a balanced full calorie meal and you see a donut and think you want it. THAT is head hunger. Or you've just eaten the last of your maintenance calories for the day....and your husband is eating ice cream in bed and you think...damn some ice cream would be good! That's Head Hunger. Or you have a carefully balanced small piece of pizza and a salad, and you think...damn, another piece of pizza would be better than this salad....that's head hunger again. Your nutitional needs have been met, but you are craving something that you don't really need.

When you've just had surgery and you are subsisting on less than 1000 calories a day....you are HUNGRY. Like, really genuinely hungry. So hungry, in fact, that your body's needs are NOT being met by nutritional intake, so it is consuming itself.

Anytime you are losing weight, by definition....your body is genuinely hungry. Your body is so desperately hungry, in fact.....that it is eating human fat (and hopefully not muscle) to meet its fuel needs.

Lack of food and consuming body=HUNGER.

Most of us are hungry. A lot. Being in denial about it and telling people they're lying to themselves about being hungry isn't helpful.

Hunger isn't a dirty word. It's ok if we're hungry. We've got a lot of stored calories and excess flesh to consume.

But YES, I am HUNGRY when i'm losing weight. And yes, hunger sucks.

Sometimes, I think this lie worsens the pathology of food addiction. We already have enough issues with a history of lying to ourselves about food. Sometimes honesty is healthier and better.

When I lose weight...I'm freaking hungry. It sucks to feel hungry, but it's necessary. It feels good to be thinner, it feels good to be healthier, and good health is worth it. I can handle feeling hungry. Enduring hunger is part of the work. Resisting cravings is another part of the work. Two different things. Both are tough.

Describing this honestly...is a hell of a lot easier to swallow, in my opinion, than "No, you're not hungry, your head is playing tricks on you."

We know better. Lies don't help.

I'm sorry but when you're losing weight, your body is not hungry. You're losing weight because your body is using the energy and calories you take in and getting rid of what you don't need. Nine times out of ten, you are NOT actually hungry. It's head hunger. Weight loss surgery gives us all a chance to relearn our bodies and the difference between actual hunger and head hunger, between what our bodies need and what our brains crave. The truth is that our head does indeed play tricks on us, if we let it. We don't need 1000 calories to survive. It's not about calories, it's about energy, eating the food that actually fuels us, and knowing the difference.

Now some of us don't actually get hungry but we deal with head hunger, which has nothing to do with nourishing our bodies. It's to fill the chemical need of our brains. That's the truth. Get the necessary Protein. Get the fluids. Understand we need less "calories" than we think. Don't count calories. Count nutrients. Be victorious!!

On 12/6/2019 at 2:03 AM, Krimsonbutterflies said:

Thank you for your candid response. I've always looked younger than my age, even when I was skinny. Hopefully I can maintain my youthful appearance, while getting healthy. I will get a breast lift or something if needed. I'm going to look into the collagen and etc. Thank you.

It’s also important for you to know that not everyone ends up looking haggard at all. I still look many years younger than my age. Even when I achieved below my goal weight, there was no haggardness. As a matter of fact, I started getting compliments that I looked even more years younger than my age. It also depends on how you lose the weight. Getting more than 86 oz of fluids (mostly water) and 90 grams of Protein daily will help your body to heal correctly. It can be a struggle but it is also possible. I’m a living witness. I also worked out 5 to 6 days a week, cardio and weight training (when I was released to start working out). I lost over 160 lbs in 10 months. You can do it!!

It’s entirely too early post op to eat spicy stuff. Probably the reason for bile and acid reflux. Most important things to concentrate on are fluids (mostly water) and Protein. Your pouch is still healing and will be healing for at least 6 to 8 weeks.

Hi,

He definitely does do VSG. Maybe it’s just not listed as a subspecialty. And the surgeries are done at BariatricPal Hospital.

1 hour ago, osito80 said:

looking at OCC for VSG. my red flag is visiting hours ending at 4pm and no family allowed to stay overnight with you in hospital / clinic. it’s odd.

anyone who had surgery at OCC have issue with this?

i also read some people state that the payment was sketchy in that credit cards aren’t taken and wanting cashier checks? is this the case?

ortiz is board certified and clinic is joint commission compliant. strict visiting hours are odd though.

lots of + reviews for dr. illan... i can find info on the facility and it doesn’t seem he’s board certified bariatric surgeon.

thanks in advance for any info-

Hi there,

i had surgery through BariatricPalMX and Dr. Illan in December of 2016. He is definitely Board Certified and a very good surgeon. You can have someone go with you and stay with you.

17 hours ago, JamesL73 said:

After watching that video, I understand the procedure as it would be as an original procedure where the large section of the stomach is left connected to the intestine and the acids still flow from there to aid in digestion further down the intestine at the junction. My question is this... For those who have already had the VSG, that large portion of stomach has already been removed, so how will the lack of those acids affect the overall efficacy of the MGB. I would imagine the lack of acids to aid digestion would most likely result in an even greater malabsorptive response. While that certainly makes me feel better about a greater chance for long term weight loss success, I imagine it also means keeping a much greater watch over keeping up with Vitamin and other nutritional supplements. Does this sound about right???

Not having had a revision from VSG to MGB, I’m honestly not sure if there’s any lack of acid. I know when they make the pouch, they don’t remove the remaining stomach, so that you still get the acids needed for the food. It just gets to the food further down the way, therefore making the malabsorption. I would say that keeping an eye on your Vitamins and nutritional supplements. 😃

Actually, it is not a sleeve. The acids do not meet the food until after the food has made it some way down the small intestine, just like the RNY. The pouch is very similar to the pouch that is with the RNY. Both pouches will only allow 2 to 4 oz of food or liquid at a time, right after surgery. It is the same malabsorption as with the RNY. The MGB is considered to be less chance of complications, less than the RNY. Weight loss is better than with a sleeve and comparable to the RNY. An experienced surgeon can do the MGB in a way that eliminates the chance for bike reflux. MGB takes care of acid reflux like the RNY. Some bariatric surgeons suggest that the MGB is better than the RNY in pretty much every way.

So people choose MGB over RNY because it is just as effective and safer. People choose MGB over sleeve because of the malabsorption and because it can get rid of acid reflux issues.

I answered the question of malabsorption and the need for Vitamins in my first post. As far as weight loss, it is comparable to the RNY. Both the MGB and the RNY cause more weight loss than the sleeve.

Hi Mikeyy,

The MGB and the RNY are different in that the MGB only has one joining, or anastomosis, not two joinings (anastomoses) as with the RNY. Because both are bypassing feet of the small intestine, they are both malabsorption surgeries. And the malabsorption is the same for both.

Here is a demonstration of the MGB:

Here is a demonstration of the RNY:

Hope this helps!

On 8/23/2018 at 1:32 PM, _Shane_ said:

I don't understand how one could have firm BMs consuming only liquids...

I don’t either but it happens.

8 hours ago, _Shane_ said:

We have diarrhea because we are on liquids diets.

That’s not true for everyone. I didn’t have diarrhea during my liquid diet.

Hi hk1100,

I had MGB survey outside the US on 12/12/16.

Bile Reflux - in my research before surgery, I found that most MGB patients do not suffer with bile reflux. Surgeons who are really experienced with MGB can make sure their patients don’t experience bile reflux.

Foul-smelling stool - all bariatric surgeries cause both foul-smelling stools and gas. For some people, taking Probiotics can help with that. But it is a trade off for being healthier.

Malnutrition - most MGB patients don’t suffer from malnutrition as long as they follow their surgeon’s post-op instructions. Other than vitamin patches, I’m not doing anything extra other than making sure I get my Protein and fluids.

I would recommend MGB surgery to anyone looking into having weight loss surgery.

On 2/1/2018 at 11:58 PM, jess9395 said:

Exercise builds muscle by breaking down muscle fibers and rebuilding them. Anatomy 101.

Skin elasticity is not impacted by that process in the slightest.

If you want more than that you can use google or a basic anatomy textbook. Or search my post history I’ve posted links before.

I’m not going to do your homework for you.

Show me Science that says the opposite. I’ll wait. No actually my college anatomy class told me I would be waiting for that forever. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

That really wasn’t science. That was a statement. So you really didn’t say anything. I don’t need to do any homework. I have lived exercising and weight training for longer than you’ve been out of high school. I have worked with personal trainers on and off for years. And... most importantly, I have experienced it for myself. I physically saw a reduction of my loose skin after I started working out and as I continued to work out, still losing weight, but not increasing in loose skin as I would have had I not been exercising.

That’s my science. My life. Say what you want, but nothing beats real life experiences. So...unless you’re going to call me a liar, respect that I know what happened to my body, and I have seen countless posts from people like me who have experienced the exact same results. I’ve been here for a while, way before I had surgery in 2016.

On 8/20/2017 at 6:45 PM, jess9395 said:

Your skin went down due to your age, genetics, starting weight, number of times you went up and down the scale, ethnicity, etc. some people do quite well. But exercise doesn't affect the skin, no matter how many weights you lift or how much muscle you build. It may fill it up but won't impact the skin at all. science.

Sorry. That’s not science. Show me the science please. I’ll wait...

Boo!!!

Man...that’s just dumb. Are you a child?

Any good surgeon will abort a surgery if the liver has not shrunk enough. The surgeon won’t put his patients’ life in danger.

Well you may notice that this thread is over 4 years old. I might look for another more recent thread before making your decision to go with this doctor.

You are not alone...but you CAN DO IT! Remind yourself that if your liver is too big your surgeon won’t do the surgery. It’s that important. Why go through all this to end up not getting the surgery? YOU CAN DO THIS!!

Has any one used Patches for their supplements, and had good results with their blood work?

Yes. I have been using patches since I got home after the surgery. I have had blood work and it has come back completely normal. Please don’t believe articles that state that Vitamins don’t absorb through the skin. They are saying that because they are being paid by one or more Vitamin companies and don’t want you to buy the patches. I am almost 11 months out.