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I didn't start eating the Protein Bars until I was about six weeks out. I am not sure the system would have tolerated them any earlier. I took them on our vacation with me and they were a definite lifesaver.

Eat a protein bar for a picker upper. It will give you that extra protein plus they taste like a candy bar to me. (I guess it has been a long time since I have actually eaten a candy bar.) I always carry one in my purse when I am going to be gone for any period of time. It also helps me to not be tempted to eat the wrong thing.

My funny story happened the day before surgery. I knew we had to drive about two and a half hours the night before surgery so I wanted to get all cleared out before our drive. So I woke up about 3:30 in the morning and drank the whole bottle of magnesium citraite. I went back to bed and went to sleep. About 5:30 I heard a cow mooing. I kept thinking that somehow a cow had gotten into our back yard and fallen in our pool. I got up and checked the pool out and realized what the "cow" really was.

I like the Protein Bars from Sam's called Pure Protein. They have 20 grams of protein in each bar. They are good for a snack or when I am in a hurry and can't stop to eat. One bar is like a full meal for me. I can eat just one bar and be satisfied. When I know I am going to be gone for any length of time I put one in my purse to make sure I won't be tempted to eat something I shouldn't. It works for me.

I was about six weeks out when we went on a ten day vacation in our Motor Home. We went out to eat with friends and I ordered a small meal and took most of it with me. It was like no one noticed I didn't eat much they were all so "into" eating their big meals. We also went to two reunions. No one commented on how little food that I actually ate. If they noticed they didn't say anything. One thing I did was make sure I finished eating about the same time everyone else did. As for feeling - I felt absolutely great. I had so much more energy and felt so much better than I have in a long time. It really amazed me how much energy I had. If you make sure and drink your water and get your protein in you will be fine. I took some protein bars with me to make sure I got enough protein. That worked great. I ate about anything and everything that I wanted to eat and still lost weight on the vacation. The sleeve is very manageable when traveling or going out to eat with others.

After reading these blogs for the last 8 months, I am of the opinion that if you start to get used to eating less etc. before the surgery you will have an easier time with the recovery process and you won't have to put your system into such a shock. But like I said that is my opinion. I started drinking the shakes and trying to lose weight as soon as I went to my first seminar. I was required by my insurance company to lose 30 lbs and I lost 41 lbs before surgery. I had absolutely NO complications or problems after the surgery. I really think that getting my body into the process of eating less really helped the process go smoothly.

I LOVE my Magic Bullet. I use it everyday at least once. I have never had any problem with the foam. It has been very dependable and excellent. I could not do without it. I've had mine for about 5 or 6 years and never had a problem with it. I highly recommend the Magic Bullet.

Several months ago I read a post on this site by a lady that had had one of the first sleeve surgeries. She was more than pleased with the results of her sleeve. It was definitely a good, positive post on the long term results of the surgery.

I wondered exactly the same thing. I am so glad that I watched the computer screen as I took the leak test. I think everyone should check out the size of their stomach that way. I had a very easy recovery and had absolutely no complications. Now at just 8 weeks out I can eat anything I want. All of the "cautions" they gave us at the pre-op have not caused me any problems at all. This sounds crazy but I seem to lose more weight when I eat a little more than when I don't eat much. Obviously, I certainly don't eat what I used to eat but I am satisfied with much less.

I too am 8 weeks out. I had a week stall before we went on vacation. We took a ten day vacation and I ate everything and anything I wanted to - in moderation obviously. When I got back from vacation I had lost 3 lbs and have lost at least a lb a day every since. I think I must have jarred my system out of the stall. I have been so pleased with my sleeve. It is a miracle for sure.

What type of surgery did you have? Vertical Sleeve What was the reason you had the surgery? Excessive weight over long period of time. Could not lose. What was your chief complaint that resulted in the surgery?Too Fat How long were you suffering from the chief complaint?All my life with the exception of a very short time when I lost a great deal of weight. (Short time meaning less than one half of a year) Was the surgery elective or medically necessary?Elective What treatments or diagnostic tests were done prior to surgery.See Listing on my signature. Also add Dismotality of the Esophagus to that list. Were there any preoperative instructions?Yes, I had to lose 30 lbs before my insurance would approve my surgery. I lost 41 lbs before surgery. Were there any preoperative issues or complaints?No complaints or issues. What was the outcome of the surgery?Wonderful. I am eight weeks out today and I couldn't be more pleased. Was there a post operative visit? If so, how long post op?Yes, at two weeks. I also have a three month appointment scheduled. Were there any post operative complications/NONE - Absolutely NO complications. The next day after surgery I was up and going. You would not know I had had any surgery at all. (Note: I am 63 years old with NO medical issues.) Was there any additional follow-up that has or will take place?Yes, The nurse called me six days after my surgery to see how I was doing. Hope this helps. However, I believe my situation is an unusual situation. I know there are many others who have had some complications etc. I just feel very fortunate to be so healthy and so happy with the outcome.

We fly SWA a lot. I have only had one time that I had a problem. I was flying with my husband, son, DIL, and baby granddaughter. The SW gal came up to me and asked if I was comfortable in their seats. I said "oh yes, I just sit next to my husband and I am very comfy." She then left. I was embarrased tho especially since there were 5 of us flying together. It was definitely unnecessary on her part to come and ask me that. But like I said that is the only time I have ever had anyone question my fitting into a seat. Now you can actually buy your own seatbelt extension so you don't have to even ask for one. That would be very convenient for sure.

Funny thing - I have been so very very careful to watch my carbs and had a stall for about a week or so. Sat. I bought some Club crackers and some spinach dip. I ate four crackers on Sat. and four on Sunday with Spinach dip. I thought I had really messed up. This a.m. I weighed and I had lost 4 lbs since Sat. a.m. Evidently, my body needed those carbs to get back on track. I wish I would have known that a week ago.

Yes, I believe it is normal. When I came back from the hospital I weighed 14 lb more. The swelling soon went away but it probably took about a week for my arms not to be tender in that area. I thought it is just normal for the soreness and swelling.

Interesting thing about the Greek Yogurt. Before I had the surgery I absolutely loved the Greek Yogurt. So I stocked up on it. After the surgery the one thing that I really do not like is the Greek Yogurt. For some reason it just doesn't taste right to me now. Everything else I have tried I have not had a problem with and tastes just right except for the Greek Yogurt. After the two weeks of liquids I never had any problem finding foods I could eat. If it is dry I make sure and "juice" it up so that it isn't dry. I have eaten all of the above mentioned items without any problem. When we go out I either eat some of my husbands food, order an egg and bean taquito OR have soup. I really LOVE my sleeve.

I just recently discovered Sam's Choice Stuffed Chicken Breasts at Walmart. They are in the frozen foods section. They are very high in protein and low in carbs. They are yummy.

I am 63 years old and the pain was very minimal. At the hospital the nurses kept telling me to slow down and not walk so fast. I recovered very fast. The day after I got home from the hospital I was up and going. I never spent any time in bed. I think the secret to a successful surgery such as this is to get up and be active right away. My friends were amazed at my fast recovery. My experience may be unusual but I have had NO complications or difficulty with this surgery. The other "secret" is that I started drinking the shakes and trying to lose weight the day of my first seminar instead of waiting just before the surgery to start the diet. I was already in the pattern of two shakes a day and a small meal before I had the surgery. I lost 41 lb prior to surgery.

My PCP recommended that I check into the VSG. He said that it was the least invasive surgery and that it was only five years old but of all of the patients that he has had that had WLS the sleeve was the one that he has had the least amount of patients with problems. I highly respect his opinion and decided to check into the sleeve through this site.

This morning I was getting ready for church. When I came out my husband said "those pants are way too big you need to find another pair." I told him I had just cleaned out my closet of all of the clothes that were too big and that these seemed to fit the best of any of them. He said I needed to hold them to keep them up at church. After church he went to my second closet and brought out two more tubs of clothes and told me to see if I could find some clothes that fit. What a great NSV.

Don't be surprised when you step on that scale the first time after surgery. I was shocked when I did. I was up 14 lbs from the surgery. Obviously, those lbs went off fast but it was a real shocker to be up that much. It was water weight from all the fluids they pumped into me.

I was sleeved on Wed. June 1st and got out on Thur. at about 4. I am doing really good. I feel good and have been able to get down the two required shakes today. I couldn't have asked for a better surgery. I think a lot of my good success is "attitude." I was determined it was going to be a good experience and it was. I credit a lot of my good feeling about it to this website. I have been reading it for the last 5 1/2 months and have read the good, the bad, and the ugly here. But I felt I was so well prepared by learning from everyone else's experiences. I'll have to update my ticker because I weighed in 41 lbs less on the pre-op diet. Now to get to walking. Many thanks to everyone on this site for all the great knowledge I have gained from this site.

My hubby of 40+ years was so scared of the surgery. He had been with me when I had a hysterectomy with some major surgery complications and he was absolutely petrified of me going under the knife again. Even tho this surgery was not near as comprehensive at that surgery all he could remember is that they almost lost me in that surgery. However, my recovery from that surgery was uncomplicated and pretty easy. It was hard but I finally decided I was going to do this for me and my health. I told my hubby that he didn't have to go to the hospital because I knew he would be a basket case. We talked a lot about what I'd be able to eat after the surgery etc. and he was very well informed of everything that was going to be happening. Everyone else was so supportive of me having the surgery. My son took me to the hospital and was so supportive of me. I had absolutely NO complications and came through the surgery without any problems. I have been so happy I stepped up to the issue and took control of my life. Now I know my hubby is so happy I did it although he hasn't come right out and said it. He keeps saying "where is all that weight going to?" HA HA I know he is pleased that I did this. He now says I am a cheap date when we go out to eat. Believe me it is so worth taking charge of your life and doing it.

I have graduated to the mushies and loving every bite of it. No complications graduating to mushies at all. I just can't say enough good stuff about the sleeve. It is just amazing. I am losing 1 - 2 lb a day with two shakes and two small meals a day plus my water intake. I am so happy I did this. It is truly a miracle.