VSG4Mag

Hi all! It’s been quite some time since I posted! I had a bit of a rough time after we moved to Virginia. I fell into a bit of a depression having moved all the way across the country from my family, leaving my friends, leaving my career as an RN to be a stay at home mom... lots of great changes were happening too, but I just had a hard time coping with it all.
Anyway, things are much better, and I’m enjoying this new life! I’m almost 9 months post op lower body lift and thigh Lipo and 3 yr 8mo post op gastric sleeve. I’m 5’ 6” and my current weight is 162, exactly 100 lbs down from my sleeve surgery, and a new low for me as an adult! I’ve been trying to work out more, and sticking to a clean healthy low carb diet.
I LOVE my post op results!!! Dr. Stacey Folk in Denver is my angel! I do eventually want to have my thighs done, but that will have to wait for now...
I currently wear a size 8/10 bottoms and S/M tops. I also plan on wearing a bikini in public when I go to Vegas in a couple weeks!!!
Anyway, I just wanted to check in And update you all. Hope everyone is well!  

If I'm being honest here, I'm almost 2 weeks out and have NO problem eating 4 oz of cod (allowed by my team) and I just had hummus (also allowed) and had almost 1/2 cup with no pain, no over fullness or ill affects. I just stopped eating it bc I got nervous and don't want to push it. I definilty feel full and don't want any more food, but I pretty much decided to stop eating just out of my personal judgement.
Granted, I eat VERY slow. Like over 20-30 min period. And chew A LOT. But I definilty don't feel the restriction that others do...even others who are far out.
I wonder why? I know that everyone is different, but would it vary from person to person?
I am losing weight, 8 pounds in 12 days (14 if you count the 6pounds I put on during the hospital stay - sooo puffy with the fluids) and I do keep my carbs super low. But I just wonder why I don't feel so constricted like others.

I like the Patches from Patchmd.com
Ive had good levels at 3 months and am scheduled to be checked again soon.

Besides having the VSG, Vitamins can get destroyed in your stomach before even being absorbed. So this method they go in through your capillaries and straight into the blood.
Also, it goes in over 8 hours.

Hello!
So 4 weeks today and got my pics uploaded from my last appointment.
Here are some pictures...
1 week out compared to 3 weeks out




Day of surgery to 3 weeks out




Shopping today :-)

You're welcome! It's been a long road, but totally worth it!
Here is the pants and top I bought the other day...

I DEFINITLY got snippy here and there. Especially when prepping meals for my family-lol

But dont mourn the food. I watch a girl on You Tube for months now (funny though not since my op) who had "food funerals" before her operation. Like this is the last time I'll have pizza or the last time I'll have...whatever. She is a year plus out now and says that's one of her regrets. She went into the surgery thinking she could NEVER have certain things and feels now that she was looking at it the wrong way.
She is very honest and had a year update where she kinda called herself out on "knowing everything" a few weeks and months into her surgery and says she has learned so much through her process. Search "made up momma". She is funny and easy to listen to.
I didn't know about this site until right around my surgery. This is a great forum with experienced people, but I do like to grab a few You Tube videos. They are not all success stories. I went in knowing that this isn't a cure all. My relationship with food has to change. The relationship with my husband and I turned into revolving around food, that has to change. But you learn a lot about yourself when you see yourself in others sometimes.
shake it off and keep on going!! Do something to reward yourself. I started getting my nails done again. I used to do them only 6 times a year (give or take) and now I make a point to go twice a month. I'm not spending nearly as much on food, so why not?

According to my doctors office, the patients on the patch have good Vitamin levels. I personally use them, but haven't gotten to the point where they test my levels.

I love the Patches.
Move got multi Vitamin, B-12, Biotin plus and calcium/Vit D.
I haven't had any follow up blood work done, but at my first post op appointment the PA said her patients with the patch have had good levels...so I'm hopeful.

Hi- I checked your profile and you are 5'2" like me. 125 is my goal.
I copied this off line:
BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9 (Normal Weight)
People whose BMI is within 18.5 to 24.9 possess the ideal amount of body weight, associated with living longest, the lowest incidence of serious ilness, as well as being perceived as more physically attractive than people with BMI in higher or lower ranges. However, it may be a good idea to check your Waist Circumference and keep it within the recommended limits.

if you get to 125 your BMI will be 22.86. NORMAL
It's not normal for us. But it IS normal. And in the mid range of normal. That way if we fluctuate a little we can still stay in that normal range and get ourselves back in order before we are in the danger zone again.
I've NEVER weighed 125. I was over 100 pounds in 6th grade and in the 140's by 7th grade. So it will be weird for everyone around me, including me. But that's why we made this choice right? For a major change forever that will keep us healthy for life.
I say it's your choice and I wouldn't confer with my family. It will take time for your head to catch up with the mirror.
Maybe just say you aren't losing weight anymore if they are pushy and that your body is just settling.
Or that you are toning up.
Whatwver you are comfortable with. But I find that sometimes people (because I have lost a lot of weight in the past and was running like crazy) start to get weird and want the fat version of you that THEY are comfortable with.
Keep up the good work.

Yes! I forgot water- its key to shedding pounds especially in detox. You want to flush it all out.
You can get drops, or crystal lite etc, but I would try to do half of your fluids as clear water- maybe with some lemon or lime slices.

Yes. Some insurances require 6 months of weigh ins. Some doctors require weight loss depending on how high the starting weight is.
Mine did not. And my pre-op diet was only required for 1 week. I did 2 hoping I would get in the week earlier, but alas I wasn't able to be bumped up. It's ok though. My system was totally ready when it came time for my VSG.

Following

Also, aside from getting hungry faster (which I have heard too) it pushes the food out and doesn't give your stomach enough time to absorb the nutrients.
Since we take in such little amounts, we need to get the most nutrition from what we consume.

Wow! Nice work. You look great

So from day 1 I took benefiber 3 times per day and the first few day I took Miralax and it just wasn't working.
I was going a little, but it wasn't regular or normal. My doc said not to do miralax bc it's just not natural compared to Fiber.
Well the benefiber did NOTHING. last Thursday, just at the 2 week mark, I bought sugar free metimucil powder. And FINALLY, I'm normal. Every day, once or twice a day since Saturday sorry tmi but I know it's a common problem.
i had VSG, so I can't do 2 teaspoons in 8 oz of Water bc you have to drink it fast- or it will thicken too much to drink. So I do 1 teaspoon in 4 oz of water. You still have to drink it quick (5-8 minutes), and then I have some clear fluids after. There are a few calories and carbs, but it is SO WORTH IT!
If you are suffering, try it. I don't love drinking it, but it's only 4 oz so I just do it knowing the results!

Everyone is different. Genetics plays a role, but The younger you are the more likely you won't be as bad.
As you get older the skin loses its elasticity. Also, the longer you have the weight on, the more damage it will do to your skin.
My mother would have talked me out of the surgery too- she is a huge part of my life long struggle with my weight. I could go into a huge vent, but I'll spare you, lol.
Do this for YOU. You have your whole life and future ahead of you and with a lighter and healthier body you will have fewer limitations.
Loose skin is secondary and may not be an issue at all for you.

The Patches seem very expensive...

According to my doctors office, the patients on the patch have good Vitamin levels. I personally use them, but haven't gotten to the point where they test my levels.

Is the patch as effective as liquid or chewables?

I had surgery 8 months ago. Just my husband knows. No ones business. People are judgemental

I have a thought....maybe the iced teas aren't helping you?
Caffeine causes the body to lose Water. Maybe your body is just holding on to whatever it can bc of the caffeine.
I'm not sure what kind of caffeine is in a bottle of Snapple, but I think it does have some
I was a Starbucks junkie. I gave up all caffeine 2 weeks before the surgery bc the support nurse said to get the headache out of the way bc caffeine is a no no for my docs protocol.
When I eliminated all carbs (pre-op) and started my Vitamins my energy didn't tank mid day. I am so surprised. I literally needed my coffee to get through a day.
Just a thought. Sometimes it's those little changes that may make a big difference.

It's crazy how different the protocols can be from doctor to doctor.
Mine says by day 2 you can have soft and mashies. I was too scared. I week out I have full fluids and a few small servings 2-4 oz of soft and mushy (Greek yogurt, scrambled egg, steamed cod).
But they literally said "go to the gym" get on the treadmill or the elliptical and keep moving. Which I was surprised about. But I've been ok. I'm not killing myself of course, moderate speed and a few 5-15 min intervals. I've done 25 minutes and I felt great.
But with all of my researching I was prepared for 5-7 days of clear Fluid, then a week or 2 on full fluids before hitting the mushy stage. I'm glad though that this is ok. I'm not a fan of all the artificial sweeteners that are in my Protein Shakes. I want to eat as clean as possible once I can get off of the shakes.

I was actually UP about 8 pounds right after my surgery. I'm happy to say that a week later that plus some more is off of me.
I was VERY swollen and retained so much. I could barely go to the bathroom bc of the anesthesia, so once I was up and about and getting fluids in normally, I lost the extra Fluid.

They won't let you exercise until 1 month?
My doc said I must exercise starting day 3. No lifting over 10 pounds, but definitely do cardio- walking, treadmill, elliptical, etc
I am 1 week out and hungry- lol we are probably that 20% who don't lose their appetite 🙄 But I'm resisting! I hit my Protein and Water goals so I'm trying to tough it out. I'll give in to a Protein Shake or 1/2 of one later if I'm still hungry
I have a great app that is good for tracking food, carbs, calories, water intake and exercise. Also tracks your weight and bmi, etc. it's so easy. I erased the other apps that didn't seem user friendly.
Baritastic Is the app. Try it. It
definitly switch to ground turkey or chicken. Maybe some vegetarian re-fried Beans.
I've been eating fish (cod and Talapia -steamed). Tons of protein, low fat and low calorie...and filling.
My doc said I can have cottage cheese and scrambled eggs and soft steamed fish right from the day I left the hospital. I too was surprised, but he said that's fine. And they are a well known NYC practice. I was too scared to eat mushy stuff so soon so I stuck to liquids for the first few days and eat tiny amounts.

Nice!! That was such a cool phone cal to get. I was SO surprised and elated. I felt like I won the lotto.
Congratulations!