smg

I wear a size 14 also. We have a nike factory store here in Vegas that carries larger sizes so that's a good source, although Nike seems to run narrow a lot. I use Zappo's quite a bit. It's a bit of a hassle to have to buy before you try them on, but they have an easy return policy so if you need to switch or return something, it's typically painless. Also, the reviews on the site are very helpful and most people will mention if the sizes are "true" or run big/small/narrow/wide, which also helps.

Totally understand what you mean with the links. I understand monetizing the site, but I do wish that the store links were somehow "singled out" from actual links we put into the posts. I don't like that it looks as though I'm the one linking to the store. Now if you want to pay me a percentage of anything bought through links in my posts...that's another story. Then I'll talk about Protein powder, Quest, unjury, meals, Protein Bars, protein chips, Soups....and anything you want me to

All of those foods sound like they'll be fine if they're permitted on your plan. The only thing I would add is that when you are trying new foods, try a small bite, chew it well, and then wait for a few minutes to try another so you can clearly see how your new sleeve will accept it. Also, as far as the wendy's chili is concerned, I'm not sure how it is. I would probably elect to make my own instead. You can control what goes in it, make healthier Protein choices (my hunch is that they don't use the leanest beef), and get something that will most likely taste just as good, if not better....and you'll have plenty left over! There are several recipes out there for "Wendy's style" chili that have been adapted for bariatric patients. Also, look for the ricotta bake if you like italian food. It was a lifesaver for me during the soft food phase. Congrats on your success so far! Keep it up! Best of luck!

Welcome @@Bun0530 ! Congratulations on taking the first steps to a healthier lifestyle! Best of luck on your journey....looking forward to see how it all works out for you!

Glad to hear that your recovery is going well! That sharp pain near your sternum could have been from repair to a hiatal hernia which is pretty common for surgeons to fix while performing bariatric surgery. You might ask your surgeon if there was a hernia repair during your procedure. In any case, glad to hear the pain has subsided. I hear you loud and clear on the Protein shakes. No matter how many flavors I had, I dreaded the next shake!! I did find some water-based Protein drinks that really helped as they had different flavors and textures than the shakes. About Time Prohydrate and Isopure were 2 that really helped offer a variety. Also, adding Protein powder to Soup broth was a good alternative. Glad to hear things are going well and welcome to the "other side"!!

If you're looking for Protein drinks other than "powder based", you might take a look at About Time Prohydrate. It's a Water based Protein Drink that has 20g of protein per bottle, and is a nice break from the powder-based drinks. Also, Isopure is another option and I think their bottles are 44g of protein (but are larger bottles). Also, you could try adding some unflavored protein to Soup broths. That was a big help for me immediately post-op. Best of luck!

I hear ya! Sounds like you're ready for some relief....it was definitely worth it for me....hope you get the relief you need soon!

Wooooot! Best of luck to you! Let us know how everything goes!!!

I went out of town at 4 weeks post-op with no complications, other than not being able to eat much while out

Look I am very sorry that you are dealing with all that you are. I think everyone who has posted in this thread has said something to that effect....at least in their first posts, before they were attacked for offering words of encouragement. This is a support forum. Typically, when people post about their complications others are there to encourage them and let them know that it does in fact, get better. That's the very nature of a support forum such as this. Your inability to take those words as encouragement is what's baffling here. Not only do you accuse those people of "attacking" you, but you've made it abundantly clear that you don't want support or words of encouragement if those words include anything about it POSSIBLY GETTING BETTER. This is clearly evident in your responses and immediate defensiveness to anyone who dares trying to help you. You said "we don't know you" and you're right. I don't know you. The only way to get an impression of you is through your words posted on this forum. So my analysis based on that has me scratching my head wondering what it is you exactly hope to achieve here? You claim you want to educate. What is it exactly you want to offer by way of education? You've shared your experience. People telling you that it may get better shouldn't be taken as a threat to the message you're trying to send, yet you're clearly taking it that way. Why? Anyone who does even a day (as opposed to 2 years) of research can clearly see the complication possibilities, both short and long-term, as well as the percentages to which they are possible. It's great that you've shared your experience here, and some of the responsibility certainly seems to reside with the medical team that was involved, but you are not open to suggestions or the possibility that it could (and for most of us, does) get better!?!?!?! So to me, reading this thread from start to finish, I would see that your "method" of education includes telling people about the negative possibilities of this procedure (which is good, as I said), but then you go further and this is where you lose me (and probably everyone else), you go above and beyond to try it make it perfectly clear that not only is it bad, but in your infinite wisdom (of 10 weeks), you can clearly say that beyond a shadow of a doubt it absolutely will never get better, and damn anyone for even suggesting that it might. This is not a good message to send to those researching the surgery, because it's simply not true and you do not have enough post-op time in to make any long-term claims. You have to realize how small of a percentage you are in with any complications, and you are CERTAINLY NOT far enough along to make the determination that you have long-term complications, and making that claim now only damages your credibility with anyone here who is, I'm sure. Not only that you could possibly be preventing people from getting a potentially life-saving procedure because they read this and see comments like "it will never get better", which is a comment that you just simply aren't far enough along to make, which makes it unfair to those people. If you want to offer your experiences (on a support forum), then you should absolutely, unequivocally be open to those wishing to help by offering encouragement and suggestions. Otherwise, you are not trying to educate, you are trying to dictate. I truly do hope things get better for you, and I also hope that one day you will re-read this thread and see why the overwhelming majority takes issue with the way you are projecting your story onto others. Nobody is challenging the fact that you are having a bad experience, but to make absolute comments like "it will never get better" is just misleading and again, a comment that you are not far enough along to make, yet you're making it over and over. That could be damaging to people who adopt that mindset without first qualifying that the source of it has the experience to make it. 10 weeks is not long-term....not by a long-shot, so making that claim is not only misinformation, it's downright dangerous to others who are still in their research phase. Best of luck!

@@KristenLe Ah I see...didn't catch that. Man I don't know what I would do without my NUT and surgeon's team. They made all the difference for me. More power to you!

Have you spoken to your surgeon or NUT about eating veggies if they are steamed and EXTREMELY soft? I was eating veggies at 3 weeks post-op, but I made sure that they were super-soft. A few bites and full. I did stay away from extremely fibrous veggies like celery or asparagus, but broccoli and carrots were fine as long as I only ate the florets and again, made sure they were super soft. If you do get clearance for some veggies, as with any food, take a bite and wait a few minutes to see how your sleeve accepts it before taking more. I also obsessed over the scale in the beginning, and I've quickly come to the realization that our weight changes throughout the day by a few ounces to even a pound or two. For instance I learned quickly that you weight about a pound or so more after a shower, even after you dry off because your skin retains some of the moisture..lol...I always freaked out about that. The best thing to do for me was to weigh in once a week, and try to do it at the exact same time of day. I chose to do it right when I wake up (after using the restroom...lol...tmi I know but that liquid can actually be enough to impact the scale). This allowed me to not be so obsessive throughout the day. Since starting this, and making the decision to make my diet consist of whole foods, the only thing I count anymore is Protein, as I feel as though everything else is coming from healthy sources of food. I workout 5 times a week also, and that has helped me tremendously as well. It keeps my mind busy and helps me stay positive knowing I'm doing the right things to succeed so that, at the end of the week when I weigh, even if it's not as much loss as I want to see, I know I'm making the right choices it motivates me to continue on that path. Try some new things. Take it slow. Whenever you have questions, speak with your surgeon/NUT. They are there to help you. Don't wait for things to get "back to normal". Create your own normal. Do that and you'll find YOUR OWN path to success!! Best of luck!

This is what you tell him :

I haven't read through the other suggestions so forgive me if this is a repeat, but I have tried several and the only one I've found that doesn't seem to change the actual flavor or texture of the food, is Quest multi-purpose unflavored powder. -- http://amzn.to/2aKDdBz

I did a lot of research on the various procedures before I ever met with the surgeon I chose. I went into the meeting confident that VSG was the procedure for me, because it was the least invasive and didn't change any of the "plumbing". After the initial tests, the doc thought that VSG was right for me based on my age and starting weight, and felt I would get the results that I needed from VSG, so that's what I did, and I am so happy about the decision. It's really been a life-changer for me. I would definitely speak with your surgeon. I'm glad I did the research that I did, but I'm even more happy that I chose the surgical team that I did because that, to me, has made all the difference in the world. Not just the surgeon but his entire team has been absolutely amazing. I can see why he has patients that fly into Vegas from all over the world to use him. The entire experience was and is great....and they are always available for questions, whether by phone or by email, no matter how small the question is...truly a great resource. Best of luck to you!

If you're looking for an alternative, I use a vegan, rice Protein based powder that I really like. http://amzn.to/2aEbxil Worth a try!

I'd be careful with this. If you don't qualify for FMLA and you live in a right-to-work state, you can be terminated "without cause", meaning they don't have to give you a reason. I'm sad to say my job here in Nevada for a number of years was basically telling people "It's just not working out". Never any recourse, and we never lost a court case because we didn't give a reason. If we actually gave a reason, we'd have to defend that in court...so "it's just not working out" was the standard answer and we NEVER had any legal issues with it. I (thankfully) am not in that position anymore. It wasn't fun, but it is legal in a right-to-work state like Nevada. If you're truly understaffed, and you are skillful and valuable to your current company, then your boss probably won't seek termination and is most likely just posturing...so I wouldn't be too concerned unless it's your primary source of income or there is low demand for your field. Especially considering that, so long as you don't have any complications, you won't be out of work for recovery that long anyway...

The feelings you're having are pretty normal at the stage you're at. I think the depression (to an extent), the fatigue, the "remorse" are nothing more than your body reacting to the fact that it's not getting what it's used to in terms of foods (good or bad) at this very moment. I noticed a very large change in attitude at about the end of the week 2 mark and it's gotten better and better every week since. Embrace the positives. Look at what you've accomplished so far. Grasp onto that, try new things. Some of the foods you thought you didn't like before you may now, and vice versa. It's amazing how our tastes change after the surgery. I couldn't eat anything overly sweet, and things that didn't taste too sweet or too salty to me before surgery were amplified by what seemed to be 100% after surgery. Best thing for me, honestly. If you told me even a week before surgery that there would be days I would actually be craving a salad, or a few slices of a tomato, I would have probably told you that you were crazy. I've always liked those things, but never craved them. Now, the healthier I eat, the more I crave healthier foods. You can succeed and looking at your progress, I'd say you already are. Stick with it...it really does get better!!! Best of luck!

I would definitely stick with your plan and speaking to your doc first. I'm not sure how that would work out. Setting the hook is typically a pretty strenuous exercise, especially for the midsection, and especially when hooking into a larger fish like a salmon. Personally, I didn't feel too much "pain" day 1 post-op, but there was discomfort in small tasks such as sitting down, standing up and walking for short bursts, I don't think I would've enjoyed fishing that day....even if I was just setting the hook. Obviously, everyone's different. Your doc will shed some more light on it for you....best of luck with everything!

WHOLE FOODS PROCESSED FOODS Red Light / Green Light. This is the most simplistic way I think about how I should be eating post-op. It has helped me tremendously....no calorie counting....no reading ingredient labels....no carb counting.....in fact the only thing I count is Protein. Surgery in April, over 90 lbs lost so far....it's working for me, it's simple really, I have more energy than I've had in over 10 years, I enjoy it, and I feel good about myself as well as the fact that I'm teaching my children how to make better food choices as well. My 13 year old son now points things out to me as "being processed" which might just be a better feeling than looking at the scale and seeing a lower number

It's most likely a bit different for everyone (and you should check with your surgical team for your specific time-frame), as we all heal at a different pace, but my surgeon cleared me for: Walking - Immediately after surgery Running - 2 weeks post-op Swimming - 2 weeks post-op (with incision check-up) Light Training (resistance bands) - 4 weeks post-op Full weight training in gym (with check-up) - 6 weeks post-op Even though I was cleared after 6 weeks, I still took it slow just to be on the safe side, but all is good and had non problems or complications after clearance at 6 weeks. Best of luck!

Yes, 1500 calories per day does sound high, but without knowing your specific situation it's hard to say what the perfect "number" is for you, that would be left up to you and your surgeon and NUT. Perhaps the doc things 1500 is the right amount -- for you. I know that I can't take in more than about 800-900 per day. I found that it makes me more frustrated when I try to count every calorie I eat. My NUT doesn't want us to count calories and wants us to focus instead on making good food choices, so that's what I've focused on instead. Less frustrating and I feel so much better after a day or two of eating a whole-foods based diet, as when I've had anything processed. Just a question, when your surgeon mentioned 1500 calories, did you tell him/her that you thought that number was far too high compared to what you are currently able to consume? If so, what was their advice/response?

Have you tried different flavors? I had the same issues with jello after surgery, it was just too sweet "all of the sudden". I gravitated toward no-sugar added applesauce instead which worked better for me post-op. Now I make homemade applesauce and I love it!

Welcome back then!!

@@izarigo That's probably a quick question your surgeon can answer. Being that your surgery was so recent, you'd be best to ask your team as they would know or would be able to check the status of your healing including the incisions themselves. Perhaps they have some advice for you... Best of luck