redfire_angel75

My surgery is June 30th and pre-surgical testing, my visit with the surgeon and a group class for all having surgery around the same time on June 5th. My Nut gave me a list of things to get...baby spoons, Soups, Protein ideas, etc.
I'm going to make my own chicken broth, portion it in freezer bags and freeze it. Going today and getting some popsicle sticks to stick into Greek yogurt for frozen yogurt. I may make my own with some Protein Powder, banana and Jiff Peanut Butter powder. I found a recipe for a pineapple freeze we may be able to have during our liquid phase.... fresh pineapple bits frozen, coconut milk and honey, agave or maple Syrup for sweetness. Put all of that into a food processor. Pinterest has a lot of ideas!

My surgery is June 30th and pre-surgical testing, my visit with the surgeon and a group class for all having surgery around the same time on June 5th. My Nut gave me a list of things to get...baby spoons, Soups, Protein ideas, etc.
I'm going to make my own chicken broth, portion it in freezer bags and freeze it. Going today and getting some popsicle sticks to stick into Greek yogurt for frozen yogurt. I may make my own with some Protein Powder, banana and Jiff Peanut Butter powder. I found a recipe for a pineapple freeze we may be able to have during our liquid phase.... fresh pineapple bits frozen, coconut milk and honey, agave or maple Syrup for sweetness. Put all of that into a food processor. Pinterest has a lot of ideas!

I was walking 2 miles at 4 days post op. Walking is fine just listen to your body and don't over do it. Ask your doctor if you are unsure. I started a couch to 5 k running program at 5 weeks post-op.
i think most people are released for more strenuous exercise by 6-8 weeks.

I am taking the diet mentality out of my life. I see the way I eat now as my new normal. Is it different then how I used to eat? Yes and that is a good thing, it is a lifestyle change.
I understand what you meant though. We will always need to be mindful and vigilant about what and how much we are eating. I like you, will occasionally take a bite here and there of some of the foods I have decided not to eat. I think this is just healthy living and not a diet.
To the op. It might be helpful for you to make a list of all the reasons you decided to have this surgery and look at them when you are feeling regret. Make a new list of the things you would like to do as you loose weight and check them off as you achieve them. I am a firm believer in having a positive attitude. Try to focus on what you are gaining and not what you have lost or perceive that you have lost.

At only a month post-op, your food restrictions are still in full effect. In another month, you will be allowed to eat a whole lot of other things, and will fit in maybe twice as much.
As long as you are getting your liquids, Vitamins, and Protein, you can live for a year or two just on your fat reserves. So please don't worry about malnutrition
Try and do a fun thing each day to help make the time go faster. Make lists of activities that you want to do when you are thinner, as well as things you can do now. Goals, rewards.. all these things that keep you looking forward to where you are going, instead of bogging your mind down in the now, or even the past.
{Hugs} everything will work out! You'll see!

I'm sorry you are struggling! Have you tried Fairlife milk? I'm lactose intolerant and my Nutritionist suggested this and have been drinking since. You don't know it's ff and has 13g Protein per serving. Have you checked out Pinterest for post-op bariatric recipes? They have tons of recipes that you may like. I think "buyers remorse" is fairly normal in the early stages by what I've read on here, but they say it does get better. I'm getting sleeved on June 30th and I am drawing so much inspiration from people here and on various bariatric Facebook groups. Keep your head up and best of luck!

I was sleeved yesterday (6/6/17) at 0930.
Waking up from the anesthesia was rough, and I had so much pain in my shoulders (I guess it's from the gas?). It was a long day, no fluids by mouth, and trying to walk.
Today was better. Had my leak test this morning, and results were perfect, so started sipping Water and walking! I felt like a different person! Was allowed chicken broth for lunch, and Jello. Oh my goodness, jello has never tasted so good
Minimal pain meds at this time, and looking forward to going home tomorrow!
HW - 250lbs
SW - 225 lbs
GW - 135 lbs
5'3" tall

6/6/17, the first day of my new life ️

I'm so sorry you're struggling. Maybe seek out someone to talk to that can help you embrace your new way of living? Are you eating/drinking enough Protein and Water. It doesn't have to be and shouldn't be unhealthy. It should be the opposite. I became lactose intolerant before surgery. It might have happened at some point for you. I hope you can find peace with your decision.

My surgery isn't until June 30th...but I can't wait to have all of the energy everyone talks about and not be so tired all of the time. I'm not sure if I've ever told anyone, but I've always wanted to wear the little black dress..without the Spanx. There are so many things I want to accomplish.

It's 3:30 am ... need to leave for hospital in 45 min. Finally the BIG day is here! Excited with a tad bit of nervousness thrown in.

Almost a year after attending the seminar my VSG is scheduled for June 30th. Tomorrow I go for my pre-surgical testing, my last visit with my surgeon and a group class. I'm not nervous at all about the surgery, just excited and cannot wait to see what the rest of my new-found life awaits.
My surgeon told me at my first visit with him that I will lose 90 lbs. over a year! Given that, I am seeing on different posts on here that people around my weight are losing weight at a quicker pace. I know not to compare myself to others, but just wondered if the weight is coming off quicker than expected. I have been heavy most of my life and I'm really having a hard time wrapping my mind around what I will look like 40, 50 or 90 lbs lighter. I keep hearing about the amount of energy people are gaining and really looking forward to that because I am tired all the time and could sleep anywhere.
What kinds of Vitamins is everyone using? I have been trying Celebrate Vitamins, but they are so big and so sweet they are hard to choke down. I have never really been able to take vitamins without nausea..even with food. Any ideas?
Sorry for such a long post, I guess I'm just excited that this is really about to happen!
Height: 5'11/2"
Hw: 262
Cw: 242

Surgery date was May 3rd 2017
Highest weight 249
Day I went home from surgery I weighed 230
Today I weight 212
First picture was before surgery in April. 2nd picture was from 2 days ago.
I can see progress and clothes are getting too big but I don't feel like the weight it coming off as quick as it is for others?
I walk everyday but I'm starting to go to the gym tomorrow. Any workout suggestions??

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

Wow!! You look amazing!

What if I fall? Oh but my darling... what if you fly? [emoji255][emoji218]🦋[emoji218]🦋[emoji255]

I got sleeved on March 16,2017 I am down 53 pounds. Best decision I ever made

My surgery isn't until June 30th...but I can't wait to have all of the energy everyone talks about and not be so tired all of the time. I'm not sure if I've ever told anyone, but I've always wanted to wear the little black dress..without the Spanx. There are so many things I want to accomplish.

Sleeved 4/17/17

5 months post op!!!! BEST DECISION EVER!!!! [emoji2][emoji173]️[emoji2] 67lbs down!!!!

You look amazing!

I'm pre-op as well and eat cauliflower fried rice with either chicken or salmon quite a bit....or try cooking chicken breasts in a slow cooker and shred..add whole kernel corn, black Beans, salsa or seasoned tomatoes, and fajita seasoning mix. 😎

Any broth. I just can't. I did eat a few tablespoons of Tomato Soup and I felt like I was eating prime rib. It was amazing.
The things that are keeping me from being too miserable are yogurt, halo top, Unjury shakes, and sips of Tomato soup (I'm scared of the acid so this is just for a warm treat). I can't believe how good I feel!

You look amazing!

Im a teacher who has a full schedule u til end of day...i also like to sleep as long as possible in the morning. I start my morning taking my multi Vitamin and omeprazole with applesauce. Hit the shower and get dressed to let those have 30 minutes to sit in my stomach. I drink my Protein Shake with 30 g. of Protein on the way to work...give that 30 minutes then start drinking my Water hitting it hard til my 30 minutes before lunch. I always change up lunch . Cottage cheese, Jello or pudding made with unfloavered Protein Powder, greek yogurt or a cream Soup with added protein powder. I also take my first dose of Calcium at lunch.. around 4 I have a snack...normally one of my unused choices from lunch and another round of calcium...then I have supper around 7 which may be a shake depending on my other choices made that day. The the last of my calcuim is also taken. I would then decide if I needed a before bed snack... I drank water non stop between meals as allowed. But I stopped drinking at 9 in the evening so I could go all night without having to get up to go to the bathroom. My favorite thing was to make pudding with premade shakes and two scoops of unflavored protein powder. I could get 5 (4oz) savings out of a regular box of pudding...they had 100 calories and 15 g. of protein and I could change up flavor combinations by changing pudding or flavor of shake I used.

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