Dairymary

Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus. More than likely your body and immune system is stressed from surgery and weightloss and is having a hard time keeping the virus suppressed. A good part of our immune system is located in our GI tract which was just violently disrupted, to say the least. Good nutrition will help get you back on track. You may try taking lysine for awhile....500mg/day. It can help slow the replication of the herpes virus. There are also OTC topicals that won't necessarily get rid of them, but will help with the discomfort until they are gone.

I was on liquids only for 3 weeks, but certainly couldn't eat that much yogurt even at 6 months out. Were you given instructions on certain amounts to eat? Like no more than 4oz per meal, etc? The nerves to your stomach were cut, so you can't go by what you perceive as "full" or not at this stage. It will be at least 2-3 months before your sleeve is healed and maybe even longer before you regain normal sensation. Measuring what you eat and sticking to that amount is a very important part of the learning curve for postoperative lifestyle changes required for long term success. Eating until we are full is what got us obese in the first place. It's one of the many bad habits I worked hard to get rid of.

I'm pretty new to the online forum world, but I'm coming out of 5+ years of fairly regular support group attendance. I can't begin to express my astonishment at the ignorance, non compliance and stubborn attitudes of so many newbies on here. A surprising number of them choose to disregard advice from a successful veteran because someone 1 month out is enabling their bad behavior. I'm starting to understand why the success rate for WLS is not higher. So many people are clearly not taking it seriously and don't seem to appreciate the kind of commitment postop life requires. Kudos to those of you who do....you will do well.
But I will just keep trying to help....no matter how many newbies I piss off with my "tough love". Just ask my kids

I had my surgery with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at Obesity Control Center in Tijuana just over 6 years ago. My daughter is a gastroenterologist and he was specifically recommended to her by colleagues in the bariatric field. He was a world renown, cutting edge surgeon even then. I had a great experience, easy recovery and zero complications. As a nurse myself, I know the difference between quality healthcare and substandard, cut-rate care. Would recommend him and OCC to anyone interested in WLS.

Dr. Ariel Ortiz is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Bariatric Surgeon of Excellence. His facility, Obesity Control Center, is an International Center of Excellence. My daughter is a gastroenterologist and Dr. Ortiz was personally recommended by her colleagues to do my VSG over 6 years ago when it was still considered experimental in the US.
He is more expensive than a lot of Mexico surgeons, but he only does a few surgeries a day, rather than the assembly line/cost cutting operations some other places run. And as a retired RN I know good medicine vs cut rate. Even 6 years later, they still email me to keep tabs on my progress.
There are a lot of factors to considered. I lucked out and had an easy choice because of my personal contact in the medical field. Good luck with your decision.

Like others mentioned, statistical averages mean nothing to an individual when it comes to WLS. the surgery simply alters your physical ability to eat large portions and/or absorb nutrient. The real success lies in the psychological changes you make. I "should" have only lost 90 pounds. Instead, I chose to utilize every resource available, including support groups, self help books and a personal therapist to beat the odds and become a rock star. I lost all of my excess weight and then some....160 pounds....and kept it off going on 6 years now. Don't let other people's numbers scare you....It's entirely up to you if you want to be average or not.

Dr. Ariel Ortiz is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Bariatric Surgeon of Excellence. His facility, Obesity Control Center, is an International Center of Excellence. My daughter is a gastroenterologist and Dr. Ortiz was personally recommended by her colleagues to do my VSG over 6 years ago when it was still considered experimental in the US.
He is more expensive than a lot of Mexico surgeons, but he only does a few surgeries a day, rather than the assembly line/cost cutting operations some other places run. And as a retired RN I know good medicine vs cut rate. Even 6 years later, they still email me to keep tabs on my progress.
There are a lot of factors to considered. I lucked out and had an easy choice because of my personal contact in the medical field. Good luck with your decision.

This might be only "rule" I follow. But mostly because I have no choice. Carbonation causes severe pain for me. A couple sips and that's all I can tolerate. However, if I really really wanted to drink something carbonated, I could manage it if I poured it over ice and let it sit until it was mostly flat. But then it wouldn't be a carbonated beverage anymore, would it?
As for all the rules, the only ones you have to follow are the ones that allow you to lose however much you want, maintain that loss, and promote long term health. The great thing is you can make up and change these rules as you go along, as long as they continue to get you where you want to go.

I was a little surprised to see the title of this post so I had to check it out. I agree with some of the others that this study is statistically Irrelevant. Too few participants to mean anything. I actually think any of the statistics surrounding WLS in general are meaningless when it comes to any one individual's chances at long term success. It's not like this is cancer or some other physical illness that we have no control over.
Each and every one of us has the opportunity to be 100% successful. It may take more than just surgery....in my case, surgery + 3 years therapy + 6 years support group + diligent, mindful choices every single day....but it is doable. There are very very few cases where regain, or failure to lose to goal, were the result of anything but poor food choices and returning to the habits and behaviors that made us fat in the first place. The importance of creating a new lifestyle and learning new ways to deal with life ups and downs cannot be stressed enough. The mental changes you make are far more important than the physical changes from surgery when it comes to long term success.
You don't have to settle for average results and the benefits of gastric sleeve only wane after 5 years if you let them. BTW, I'm six years out and am still maintaining over 100% EWL with the help of my sleeve.

Mashed Beans, lentils and tofu are all soft foods. Basically, if you can cut it easily with a fork, it is considered a soft food. In fact, other than raw veggies, I can't think of anything vegetarian that wouldn't be considered a soft food. I was actually eating tofu, hummus and refried beans in my pureed stage. However, I'd stay away from the mashed potatoes unless you are adding unflavored Protein Powder to them. Otherwise they are just empty carbs.
and feel free to continue drinking Protein Shakes if you need to in order to get your 60-80g of Protein in. I drank them regularly for several years.

I had my surgery with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at Obesity Control Center in Tijuana just over 6 years ago. My daughter is a gastroenterologist and he was specifically recommended to her by colleagues in the bariatric field. He was a world renown, cutting edge surgeon even then. I had a great experience, easy recovery and zero complications. As a nurse myself, I know the difference between quality healthcare and substandard, cut-rate care. Would recommend him and OCC to anyone interested in WLS.

I had my surgery with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at Obesity Control Center in Tijuana just over 6 years ago. My daughter is a gastroenterologist and he was specifically recommended to her by colleagues in the bariatric field. He was a world renown, cutting edge surgeon even then. I had a great experience, easy recovery and zero complications. As a nurse myself, I know the difference between quality healthcare and substandard, cut-rate care. Would recommend him and OCC to anyone interested in WLS.

If you are just five weeks out and you are already off track, it doesn't sound like you ever had focus in the first place. Are you seeing a therapist to help you with your food addictions? If not, you really need to. These first 6-12 months are the easiest ones you will ever have. Bad habits will only get worse if you don't get help.
Believe me, I could not have lost all my weight and I definitely couldn't have kept it off for 5+ years if it weren't for the psychological changes I made. The hour or so I spent on the operating table would have been a complete waste if it weren't for the hundreds of hours spent with my therapist and in group support meetings. Getting to the truth behind my dysfunctional eating habits and learning new ways to cope with life's stresses has been far more beneficial than WLS itself. Our smaller stomachs are a just a small part of successful weight loss. The mental part is far more important .....and far tougher to fix.
Good luck!

If you are just five weeks out and you are already off track, it doesn't sound like you ever had focus in the first place. Are you seeing a therapist to help you with your food addictions? If not, you really need to. These first 6-12 months are the easiest ones you will ever have. Bad habits will only get worse if you don't get help.
Believe me, I could not have lost all my weight and I definitely couldn't have kept it off for 5+ years if it weren't for the psychological changes I made. The hour or so I spent on the operating table would have been a complete waste if it weren't for the hundreds of hours spent with my therapist and in group support meetings. Getting to the truth behind my dysfunctional eating habits and learning new ways to cope with life's stresses has been far more beneficial than WLS itself. Our smaller stomachs are a just a small part of successful weight loss. The mental part is far more important .....and far tougher to fix.
Good luck!

Yep I did. Other than I did, and still do feel restriction when I eat dense Proteins like beef and chicken. Congratulations! It was great to gave such an easy recovery.
But now is a good time to start measuring and tracking everything you eat and drink if you aren't already. Your restriction is only going to lessen over time and it will get easier and easier to out eat your sleave. Making sure you keep up with your Protein and Water goals (mine are 80+g and 100+ ounces) and staying away from sliders and triggers are something you will have to do for life. And unfortunately it's something YOU have to do....your sleeve won't do it for you.

If you are just five weeks out and you are already off track, it doesn't sound like you ever had focus in the first place. Are you seeing a therapist to help you with your food addictions? If not, you really need to. These first 6-12 months are the easiest ones you will ever have. Bad habits will only get worse if you don't get help.
Believe me, I could not have lost all my weight and I definitely couldn't have kept it off for 5+ years if it weren't for the psychological changes I made. The hour or so I spent on the operating table would have been a complete waste if it weren't for the hundreds of hours spent with my therapist and in group support meetings. Getting to the truth behind my dysfunctional eating habits and learning new ways to cope with life's stresses has been far more beneficial than WLS itself. Our smaller stomachs are a just a small part of successful weight loss. The mental part is far more important .....and far tougher to fix.
Good luck!

If you are just five weeks out and you are already off track, it doesn't sound like you ever had focus in the first place. Are you seeing a therapist to help you with your food addictions? If not, you really need to. These first 6-12 months are the easiest ones you will ever have. Bad habits will only get worse if you don't get help.
Believe me, I could not have lost all my weight and I definitely couldn't have kept it off for 5+ years if it weren't for the psychological changes I made. The hour or so I spent on the operating table would have been a complete waste if it weren't for the hundreds of hours spent with my therapist and in group support meetings. Getting to the truth behind my dysfunctional eating habits and learning new ways to cope with life's stresses has been far more beneficial than WLS itself. Our smaller stomachs are a just a small part of successful weight loss. The mental part is far more important .....and far tougher to fix.
Good luck!

Yep I did. Other than I did, and still do feel restriction when I eat dense Proteins like beef and chicken. Congratulations! It was great to gave such an easy recovery.
But now is a good time to start measuring and tracking everything you eat and drink if you aren't already. Your restriction is only going to lessen over time and it will get easier and easier to out eat your sleave. Making sure you keep up with your Protein and Water goals (mine are 80+g and 100+ ounces) and staying away from sliders and triggers are something you will have to do for life. And unfortunately it's something YOU have to do....your sleeve won't do it for you.

My life is as normal as can be. I'm just a regular housewife/retired nurse who works on our dairy farm, babysits my grandkids, goes on date nights with my husband (whether he wants yo or not ) and takes theater trips with my girlfriends. I barely think about being a WLS patient during my day to day routine. My previous support group and now this forum are really my only connection to my surgery.
I quit measuring and tracking my food almost 3 years ago....I'd been living and eating "right" for so long it's just became second nature. I also don't see my therapist regularly anymore. I never did go to the gym or add any extra exercise. I'm just really active and walk as much as possible. Probably 5+ miles every day. But in general, my life is basically the same as it was before surgery. I'm just thinner and healthier (both mentally and physically) which makes all that everyday stuff easier.

Still at my low weight (give or take a couple pounds). Surgery and losing the weight was the easy part. I also put my time in tracking and measuring every bite, learning all I could about nutrition, attended local support groups, and saw a therapist for 3 years. These are my key to long term success.

As always, be sure to Track and measure and make sure you are getting 100oz fluids and 60-80g Protein....from food if the shakes don't provide enough. At least this is what it takes for me to lose/maintain. As long as the shakes aren't too loaded with carbs, it could be a good plan to drop some extra pounds. But also remember that any "diet plan" is a temporary fix. You also need to work on altering whatever habits that led to your regain so it doesn't happen again.
Good luck.

collagen Protein can be low quality...not very well digested or absorbed. (With the exception of the more expensive pre digested hydrolyzed collagen products) If you are going to use protein supplements, look for 100% whey isolate. Syntrax Nectar are usually well tolerated, taste decent and have dozens of flavors to choose from.
But at three months and on normal food you should be able to get most of your protein from real food.....eggs,chicken, beef, pork, seafood, fish, turkey, tofu, Greek yogurt (but read labels carefully since many have more carbs than protein), Beans, etc.. Have you tried protein bars? Quest and OH Yeah One have good nutritional profiles and can help curb your carb craving since they basically taste like candy bars. If you are already eating 1000 calories then make it 1000 calories of protein and you're golden.
if you are having a hard time with Water then try herbal teas (iced and hot), almond milk, low cal sports drinks, Vitamin water, lifewater, infused water, etc.

collagen Protein is very low quality...not very well digested or absorbed. If you are going to use protein supplements, look for 100% whey isolate. Syntrax Nectar are usually well tolerated, taste decent and have dozens of flavors to choose from.
But at three months and on normal food you should be able to get most of your protein from real food.....eggs,chicken, beef, pork, seafood, fish, turkey, tofu, Greek yogurt (but read labels carefully since many have more carbs than protein), Beans, etc.. Have you tried Protein Bars? Quest and OH Yeah One have good nutritional profiles and can help curb your carb craving since they basically taste like candy bars. If you are already eating 1000 calories then make it 1000 calories of protein and you're golden.
if you are having a hard time with Water then try herbal teas (iced and hot), almond milk, low cal sports drinks, Vitamin water, lifewater, infused water, etc.

The more carbs you eat the hungrier you are going to be. meat keeps you full.
Think of you sleeve as a muscle, if you don't exercise is won't work as well. So if you don't eat meat, you won't be able to eat meat.
900-1000 Calories are fine if you are under 25 grams of carbs a day, and exceeding your Protein goals
It also sounds like you could use a PPI if you aren't already taking one.

Yep, that's about where I was....800-1000 calories mostly Protein, quite a bit of fat and very low carb (in the form of veggies). Better to get your calories up so you don't trash your metabolism. It makes maintenance easier. Unfortunately so many of us already have trashed metabolisms from decades of crash/yo-yo dieting.