laceemouse

Although I had thought about it for a couple of years once I finally got serious my process was less than 2 months. My insurance was easy to work with. I had my first consult in early August 2016 and my VSG on Halloween. Even my pre-op diet was easy, 3 days of low carb and no caffeine. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

First off, for those telling you that exercise will tone loose skin, um, not really. You can build the muscle to fill up the loose skin somewhat but exercise does not tighten loose skin. I am 5'6". Starting weight 248.2. I now maintain in the 130's. (I met my goal of 148 in 10 months and went on to lose more) I am 55 years old and did not end up with a saggy face. Nor do I have a hanging over flap of skin on my stomach. In fact, my stomach is pretty flat and my waist is tiny. My arms are saggy, most likely due to my age. My thighs are the worst, baggy and wrinkled and terrible!!! Which leads me to this........ What matters a lot, more than your age or genetics, is WHERE you carry your weight. I am not an apple. I have a pear shape. My thighs have always been my biggest issue. Prior to gaining my weight I wore a B cup bra. At my heaviest I was a D. I am back down to a B/C which is fine with me, not much sagging there. People who start out with huge boobs usually feel they need a lift after weight loss. You do have age on your side but you really don't know until you lose the weight what you are going to end up with. I would say most people with loose skin hide it very well. They know how to dress so no one would even know. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

This is a common problem in our community. I think some people just don't understand but I can also see that sometimes it's probably just a typo/autocorrect. Either way I just try to ignore it. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Grazing is a difficult topic to discuss. I am over a year out and have surpassed my weight loss goal. I still have good restriction when I eat the right foods so I eat often too. I have to or I don't get enough calories for the day. I am trying to stop losing weight. I think the difference is making good choices and tracking. I gained a couple of pounds over the holiday last week by taking a bites here and a bite there of "bad' foods and not really tracking them. Allowing yourself healthy snacks is not the same thing as grazing. I always wonder about people who only eat 3 times a day post weight loss surgery. And who stop eating after 20 minutes or so each time. I would be like 80 pounds now if I did that! Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Every single group online is like that. I have seen heated arguments of sites for Disney fans, homeschool moms, and everything else out there. I have even seen fights on a cast iron cooking Facebook page. People have different opinions. That's life. Either scroll on and not get involved or join in the conversation. Either way it's fine. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

First off, congratulations on the baby. I can't imagine being pregnant post weight loss surgery. I gained all my weight through four pregnancies in six years back in the '90's. I nursed each one of my kids over a year and it did nothing to help me lose the pregnancy weight. I was starving through every pregnancy and starving when I was a nursing mom (made plenty of milk for my huge babies!) Then when I was done with the baby stuff I just couldn't get the weight off. As I got older and pre menopausal it just got worse and worse. Believe me when I tell you this, time is not on your side, the older you get the harder losing weight will be. To the person who said you are still beautiful this isn't about looks. This should never be about looks. It's about health. In time every obese person develops high blood pressure, diabetes, hip and knee problems, etc. You want to get healthy for your child. You want to be able to run and play with your child. But even more importantly than that you want to set a good example for your child. When you eat a double cheeseburger in front of your four year old guess what? They want one too. Imagine how you are going to feel if your child gets fat and is picked on at school. Even worse, imagine your child developing health problems due to poor eating habits. Personally I would seek counseling, and maybe medication, before signing up for another surgery. I hated having surgery the first time. Don't get me wrong, I love my sleeve, but I felt like crap for a long time afterwards. I am thankful my kids are grown up, I would hate to have to care for little ones after a major surgery. Good luck to you. Are you married? The entire family needs to be establishing healthy eating habits. And exercising! Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

You are welcome. Every surgeon gives different advice though, it's confusing. Mine says one shake a day is fine forever to help get protein in. I am over a year out and still have an afternoon Premier shake with coffee to boost my protein. I can't eat much solid food, my restriction is still very tight. Take care and good luck!!! Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgeon told me to keep my protein between 70 and 80 grams a day. He did tell me that more than that would slow weight loss. I followed his recommendation and had great results. I never had more than 2 shakes a day in the early weeks, and it took me all day to get them down. When I was able I added one more thing a day, either a yogurt or an egg. I was at least 2 months out before I could consume more than that daily. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

I did neck, bust, under bust, natural waist, hips, each upper arm, each wrist, each thigh and each calf. It didn't drive me crazy because I have only measured twice, just before surgery and at goal weight. All total I lost over 70 inches. I am 10 pounds under my goal, I should measure again but doubt I will. About the boots, they have made boots with extended calf sizes for years. I have huge calves. Even as a kid, not overweight, I had huge calves. I couldn't wear boots back then because they didn't have large calve boots. So I just never became a boot person. I am well within the normal BMI range now and still have large calves. Very straight jeans are impossible for me, the size that fits my calves is huge on my waist. Same with leggings. I could complain about my calves but my waist is tiny so I won't [emoji6] Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

True. I am a pear. My waist is small but my legs will never be small. I have surpassed my weight loss goal but I will never be able to fit into one leg of my old pants, my calves are too big. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Where do you shop? I have a hard time even finding 6's in stores, I never see 4's or 2's. That's one of the reasons I am trying to stop losing. How tall are you? Maybe those smaller sizes are easier to find in petites but I am 5'6" so not petite. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Are you joking? Why would you do those things? Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

You need to make yourself get up and walk or you will get blood clots. Once and hour I got up and just made a few laps around the house unless I was sleeping. The nausea can be caused by dehydration. Sip, sip, sip your water. I was really slow being able to get my protein in. Even two or three weeks post op I struggled to get a couple of shakes down a day. It took me hours to finish each one so I was sipping all day. Recovery was very slow for me but please talk to your doctor. Dehydration is a dangerous thing. That being said you have a raw, torn up stomach. It takes weeks for the staple line to fully heal. I know it seems like most people are eating again no big deal but be patient with yourself. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Most people don't have them post weight loss surgery. Mine was a year ago and I didn't have one or need one. The incisions are so tiny. I did have a drain for a couple of days, which is rare. The binder must be even more rare, I have only heard of them being used after plastic surgery. I also did not have bandages to change. My incisions were covered with super sticky surgical tape. I was told NOT to pull it off but to let it fall off on its own. It took weeks to fall off (yes, I showered daily) which was fine with me. My scars are minimal. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

I have say good for her! Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

THIS! I didn't take one and regret it. I spent many years trying to avoid the camera and the pictures of myself I do have are mostly me trying to hide behind other people or things. And I don't think there are any at all of me at my highest weight. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

I just had my one year surgiversary on Halloween. My surgeon told me just after surgery to shoot for 70-80 grams of protein a day and 50-70 carbs. I track every bite on My Fitness Pal. Eating that way came to about 700-800 calories a day most days. I wasn't really tracking calories but I know from the app how many I got. I never worried about fat. I lost 100 pounds in 10 months which got me to goal. People who have more to lose usually lose faster and those with less to lose lose more slowly (not always just in general). Since reaching my goal I have lost another 10 pounds. I am trying to slow it down. At my one year check up my surgeon told me to aim for at least 1300 calories a day. 1400 would be better. I struggle to get that much in. I predict I will hit a low weight and then bounce back up a little. I am currently 138 and he doesn't want me under 130 for my height. I know a lot of people say they don't track calories but if they are restricting macros (protein, carbs, fat) they are not getting very many calories. It helps me to pay attention to macros AND calories because, like I said, I need to increase calories at this point. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Sizes are messed up, each manufacturer is so different and vanity sizing is crazy. I have been married 29+ years. My wedding dress was an 8. In those days there was a store called 5,7,9. They were the "small size experts". Things like 00, 0, 1 and 2's and even 4's didn't exist. I am 5'6". Most people on here are not listing height. A year ago I weighed 248. Had VSG last Halloween and currently weigh 138. At surgery I was wearing tight 18's in pants. I am bottom heavy. Tops were an XL in regular sizes. Rarely did I need a 1X in tops or dresses. I now wear a 6 on the bottom and small tops in most brands. I still have some 8 pants that are okay and some 6's that are saggy on my butt. My daughter is getting married in a couple of weeks. My mother of the bride dress is a fitted 6 and is honestly pretty roomy on my waist. My girls and I have gotten out my old size 8 wedding dress. It seriously fits my oldest daughter. She is barely over 100 pounds and wears 1's and 2's. My other 2 daughters are 8's in most clothes. My wedding dress doesn't come close to fitting them or me! I am happy I can wear a 6 but sizes are dumb. I am not small at all, no one would look at me currently and call me skinny. No wonder they have 00, 0, and 1's and 2's now. It's insane. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

First of all quit using the word stall. Are you saying you stalled every time you weighed the same 2 days in a row? Because your rate of loss is amazing. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone losing as rapidly as you are no matter what their starting weight. How quickly did you think you were going to lose? You are doing amazing! Please don't think you have to do hours at the gym or run marathons. I met my goal with very light exercise, just getting out and walking a few times a week. You may find it gives you more energy. Just start slow. But wow, losing a pound a day?? Can't even imagine! Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

You have to look at your total loss. I lost more than that the first month but I had lost nothing pre-op because I didn't have a pre-op diet. Also, people with more to lose will lose more quickly. My goal was 100 pounds. Some people have 150 or 200 to lose. You are doing great!! Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

I had bad diarrhea days 3 and 4 after surgery. I also blamed the protein shakes but my surgeon said sometimes it's happens when things are waking up and starting to work again. But, too much sugar free stuff can do it to you for sure. I can't stand artificial sweeteners so I have always avoided them but they contain something called sugar alcohol which upsets tummies sometimes. You newbies should all take it easy. I did nothing but short walks in the house for the first two weeks. You are recovering from major surgery and getting almost no calories in. Give yourselves time to heal. As far as water goes I never met those goals. I still don't truth be told. As others have said when you are early out the protein shakes count as fluid. Just do the best you can sipping water between shakes. If you are peeing a lot, and it's light in color, you're fine. Sent from my Nexus 6P using BariatricPal mobile app

Anything soft, I had sweet potatoes early on.

I don't do artificial sugar, I think it tastes like chemicals. I am okay with the taste of Stevia in my coffee but I use very little. I like the liquid Stevia drops from Trader Joe's because I can use about half the regular amount. A bottle is going to last me years. I can't do dairy since my WLS so I don't consume sugar in yogurt or pudding. When I want something sweet I eat something with real sugar, just a really small serving, like a fun size candy bar. It doesn't bother me at all.

Man, people fuss at me all the time for not eating enough but I am a pig compared to you. I was so worried about my low calorie consumption because it will actually slow the metabolism making it impossible to ever eat more without worrying about gain.

I wore comfy clothes there and wore the same ones home. I used my phone, charger, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush and face wash. I stayed 2 nights, wore 2 hospital gowns (one going the other way so my butt didn't hang out when I walked) and the nurses put those gripper socks on my feet. My mouth was very dry, I brought chapstick but the nurses gave me one to use so I didn't get mine out of my bag. I brought a heating pad but didn't need it, I was on morphine and feeling no pain. I would not bring PJ's, I didn't have any desire to change clothes plus who cares what you look like. I don't see why you would need a pillow and blanket, the hospital has those (plus I don't want germs on my stuff, eww) You will sleep, pee and walk. That's about it. I got up and walked as much as they would let me. I had no gas pains. The gas isn't in your stomach, it is in your abdominal cavity because they blow you up with it when they do the surgery. The best way to get rid of it is walking. I kept the tv on for the noise but was in and out of sleep when I wasn't walking. I was comfy in my adjustable hospital bed. I brought too much stuff, didn't use most of it.