GeTnBackuP

OMG thank you for saying that. I'm having huge self esteem issues with my stomach because I have loose skin on my upper belly and it creates a muffin top depending on what I wear. I never view myself as having a flat tummy. That made my day!

Rocking the skinny jeans girl!!! Way to go [emoji41]
Had to edit- look at your flat tummy YES!!!!

October 17 sleevers

The diet right after surgery will be hard. Clear Liquids, then full liquids, then puree, then soft foods. My dietician said half a cup of food per meal. 1000 calories per day is the goal. 80 grams of Protein per day is the goal plus 64 ounces of Water. I will be honest with you, it is very difficult. I am a food addict and it has been very hard. I miss all my old foods. having said that I am glad to see the pounds falling off.

How much you lose is up to you. Typically they say about 60% of excess weight but it can be more or less depending on your ability and desire to exercise and eat right. But the battle isn't with your stomach- it's with your mind. We have an addiction and you have to treat it as such. And getting active will help. I took up swimming because I have bad knees and it's been great.
For a few weeks to a few months eating will be much different than you're used too. Full very fast. EAT SLOWLY. If you overeat I guarantee you will only want to do it once. Follow the plan your doctor gives you and don't deviate. They have a reason they do what they do. You will gradually be able to eat more but never like you used to. I just had my first ice cream in 4 years. 1 scoop filled me up. And no real desire to have more. The quantity you'll be able to eat will vary depending on what you're eating and how fast. But don't push it. I've had to find other things to replace my eating. I can still eat most things just in much smaller quantities. I don't do rice or much Pasta or potatoes as they fill me up very fast and no room for the healthier- and tastier- things.
I felt great after surgery. Told the doctor I've had worse paper cuts. No pain, no gas, no upset stomach. But I'm one of the lucky ones. Expect some problems like gas and just have a heat pad ready - it helps. There can be complications- that's true with any surgery but, again, follow instructions for hygiene and type of food.
Excess skin? Oh yeah! I've lost about 250 pounds and I look like a partially deflated balloon. But I'm working at losing some more to have skin removal. Need a BMI of around 35 before that happens. How long again is a matter of how much and how fast you lose.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! I wish I had done it 10 years before I did. But fear kept me from trying. I heard a quote bt Will Smith. " God puts the best things in life on the other side of fear." How true!
Finally I would recommend a book called Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies. Very informative. Good luck

I am 11 months post op and I am down 105lbs. Starting was 290 and I am 5'2"
Eating was sometimes difficult before. I mostly eat meats and vegetables. How much I eat depends on the density and the volume of the food, but approx. 1c of food per meal.
I felt normal about 4 months post op when I no longer had to think about what food phase I was in.
I do have A LOT of excess skin. I plan to have plastics, but most plastic surgeons require you to be weight stable for 6 months prior to surgery and I still have approx. 35lbs left to lose before I hit maintenance.
I would do it all again in a heartbeat. It was totally worth it. I went from a person who huffed and puffed getting from the front door to the car to a person who routinely RUNS for an hour at a time. I went from a person who exists...to a person who lives.

Prior to my VSG I swore I would never wear skinny jeans. The couple times I tried them on in the past was not a joyful experience. If I was lucky enough to get them above my calves they did nothing for my figure. I would wiggle around trying to get them on and then feel like an udder shame when I looked in the mirror. I was solidly a boot cut jean type of girl.
Well..... I not only found a pair that fit but I love the way they look on my figure. Also, I'm wearing white! White is not a forgiving color, I've always been a black/dark solids girl but not anymore!

I first started considering WLS in 2009, but I was so far from being ready. I tried again a few years later with similar results and the surgical team kept telling me I was not ready because my life was so hectic (in school full-time, working at a job I hated, and not following through with the pre-op plans), and again maybe two years later. It wasn't until early 2016 that my primary doctor brought it up again as a possible option for me. By that point, I had a steady full-time job, I had finished college, I was no longer depressed and I was motivated. Now that I am 7 months post-op and down 180 pounds (75 pounds since surgery), I have no regrets. I don't even regret not having it earlier. I had it when I was ready and if I had it any sooner, I would have failed. My biggest advice is research your options, if you have any reservations, look into the possible reasons/causes of those reservations and decide if now is the right time or if you just need more guidance/information/etc. to be ready and successful.

Had the sleeve, January 2012. In less than a year, I went from 275 -115. I now stay, comfortably, at 122 +/- a pound once in a while. Maintenance was scary and hard to find my perfect balance. Was a thin tightrope for a while.
Only regret? That it wasn't an option in my teens so I could've lived my life instead of hiding, sitting on the couch, eating, watching TV and being alone.
I've been working at living my life from now on!
Great advice & insight @monalyssa33

My NUT told me yesterday the only, ONLY reason people’s hair falls out is because they don’t take their required daily Vitamins. I cannot imagine all of you posting here, after all we learn along our journey to surgery, are not taking proper daily vitamins on top of eating the way we are supposed to. What the heck was she talking about??

Wait -- what does this even mean, LOL. I am so NOT cool, evidently :-)

And Apple203, I think you’re cool [emoji41]

A bougie is some sort of measuring device the surgeons use to cut and hem out new pouches and the 40 French apparently is one of the sizes of the pouch. I have NO CLUE how they do all this laparoscopically but there ya go!!!

Disclosure: this is my very rough, truly uneducated explanation, I’m a pre-op newbie and am hoping a better, more wizened explanation will follow [emoji851]

I have used their food, I bought quite a bit of their products right after my surgery. I am 4 years out. I really like their Snacks. I didn't care for their Cereal at all. Most of their other foods seemed to have rice, tortillas etc. I found it was easier to make my own stuff. I didn't eat tortillas or bread until just recently. I did eat oatmeal ( which they call it a slider) but I had trouble with Strictures and couldn't hold down food hardly at all. I ended up having 5 Endoscopes with 4 dilations. Everything is great now. I still have great restriction and I have been at my goal weight for 3 and 1/2 years. Like I said I didn't eat bread and stuff before being at my goal for quite awhile. But that was just my own thing!! Good Luck on your new journey!! I look forward to following your journey.

Yes, me too- Id love to find Keto books and how they relate to a WLS Post-Op eating plan but apparently there are none. Considering the success of @blizair09 and the many others here that follow this type of eating philosophy, I will be following them and learning and soaking it all in. I am really enjoying this website and all of the knowledge here, it definitely makes me feel more secure that I wont totally blow it when I start eating solid foods again!

Hi Bary!
I have not read any of the responses yet, but thought I'd chime in. Sorry if what I say has already been said. I am one year post op and I, too had wondered if I would be able to enjoy certain things much later on. I am 100 percent healed now so I think I can answer this as someone who has tried a bit of everything (within reason!) post op.
I was never, and still am not someone big on carbonated drinks. However, I have attended to sip off of my husbands on rare occasions, and also I recently order a beer. It took me an hour to drink half. The reason is that the carbonation fill the small pouch super fast. It's rather uncomfortable. I'm not really into beer but it was a rare occasion and I was just having a bit of an experiment. Carbonation is not recommended post surgery, and I can say that it does not feel very good. Also, the calories and carbs in beer are not the healthiest things. It's honestly best to avoid carbonation. From what hear from many previous soda and carbonation regulars, the cravings dissipate post surgery. You just get used to not having it.
As far as the "big ol' 4oz steak" (I had to laugh because only those of us familiar with the limits post surgery really get the 4oz limit...and its true!), I have eaten steak but it needs to be very tender. So the good news is this: Yes, steak is Ok but you will be enjoying quality over quantity. These days when I have steak I have about 3 oz of really tender cuts. You have to kind of experiment with the cuts that go down well of you. Let me interject that you won't even be able to think about steak until you're cleared for solids.
One year post surgery I am pretty well tuned to what feels good or bad in my tummy. I can eat chicken everyday, and I love it, even more than pre surgery. I can also eat fish which I love. Ground beef & ground turkey does not sit well with me for whatever reason, even today. Man, I used to LOVE a good burger. I still imagine the taste and satisfaction of burgers, but I simply cannot tolerate ground beef, more than a bit or two.
You will discover what works and doesn't work, everyone seems to be different. Aim for making the healthiest choices (easy to tolerate soft dense protein), and then know that one you hit your goal, you can bring back some of the good carbs, and life seems normal, albeit much healthier!
Best of luck in your journey!

LOL- I guess Ive been Googling the wrong words, here's a new one....
https://www.bariatriceating.com/2017/03/bee-keto-bariatric-plan/

First off,, Congratulations on your amazing numbers I can't imagine the pride you must feel.. I can see myself doing much of the same things you are doing. Have you found any good books about the keto diet? I would like to learn as much as I possibly can before I have to start eating solid foods again.
TIA - Bear

I can totally visualize this with your excellent description! Very interesting! Thank you!

Very kind of you to say, thank you. And onwards we go!

For a possibly more helpful description...
You have a pillowcase. I want you to make the pillowcase just big enough to hold your foot and lower leg. How would you do it?
Let's put your foot and leg into the case against one side, then cut off the extra case and stitch the two edges together. Voila! Custom leg accessory.
Now.. the pillowcase is your stomach, and the bougie is your leg.
Since stomach acid shouldn't get loose in the abdominal cavity, the cutting and stapling happen at the same time. The surgeon may also use suture material to oversew the staple line by hand, but that is done after the staples are in place, already securing the edges.

Ok, so a bougie is something (metal? Plastic?) shaped like a hot dog. They run it down into the stomach (via the esophagus) during the operation. Then they use a nifty tool that cuts, cauterizes, and staples, all at the same time, to separate the "keep" vs. "don't keep" part of the stomach.
The bougie is inside the "keep part" and gives something firm to make the cut against, while also making the sleeve the correct size.
The bougie is removed when the cuts are complete.
40 is a size measurement, and French is style I guess.

Wait -- what does this even mean, LOL. I am so NOT cool, evidently :-)

Thank you!!! You are brave to post this, it’s sensitive and concise and me...so me too! Thank you

Fantastic Post!

Well, it's a start alright... the finish has yet to come. But I'll document my sleeve story here in the hopes that it'll help others.
Surgery to lose weight? Peh!! That's for weaklings... I would never mutilate my body.... why take the easy way out... in short, wls was a remote concept to me. Honestly, it just never was on my radar, that's all.
But like many here I struggled.. and it was a constant battle in the back of my head. I've been everywhere on the spectrum from "a real woman has curves, damn it" to " this is a social construct; it's todays world that makes me feel bad about who I am... I mean look at norms from 50-60 years ago" to "I don't have to be thin/normal/etc, I have brains to prove myself... I will never be one to rely on how I look to get ahead".... you name it, I've probably been there.
I'm going on 40... years of this... and dieting... and gaining... and dieting... and checking out the newest fad... and shopping based on what fits... not what I like.... years of focusing on the 'content' vs the 'packaging', coupled with a very low idea of self-worth rooted in childhood... well, for one reason or the other we all end up in the same spot.
Last summer my family and I were at the beach; There I am, sitting at the beach and I just can't stop judging people. Nevermind the fact that I lost 20 pounds and gained 19,5 back... So technically I have still lost weight compared to same time last year; I am just sitting here, in the shade and I can't stop myself from passing judgment on everybody... Bad posture, wrong choice of bathing suit... Omg!! What was she thinking?!?!? I would kill to have the body of most of the women who unknowingly are subject to my internal rantings but there you have it. And then I caught myself... sort of saw myself from a different perspective. Is this really who I want to be? This constantly bitter, unhappy person who blames everyone and everything but neglects to take responsibility? And it was there the first seeds of change had been sewn. Althought wls was still a long ways off from being even an idea.
I came to the US 20 years ago... It's not easy being the 'outsider', less so when you're a parent. At times it feels like everybody knows each other; even worse everybody likes each other... everybody but you. And this even though we all started being soccer moms and dads at the same time. Granted, sometimes you'll have your neighbors who know each other and naturally gravitate toward each other... or those parents whose kids are besties in school and who automatically click.
Some days a parent will say hi... good morning... how're ya doing? And those days are good days because for the next 60 minutes of a game you re-live that moment when you were part of the in-crowd. On other days your good morning will be ignored.. sometimes on purpose. And those days you put on a brave face for your kids because no kid likes their parents to be the outsider. Some days it gets so bad, so lonely, that I feel like exploding... i feel like asking "guys... what is it? Is it because i'm fat? Wear glasses? Have an accent? All of the above? I see these posts for parents with tips on how to deal with socially awkward teenagers... or how to boost their kids' confidence and I gulp them up looking for a glimpse on what it could be I'm doing wrong. It is a sad state of affairs when you're diving into teen advise columns but you're almost 40.
I have two amazing kids... and I know how easily effected kids are by how they view their parents. All parents are an embarassment to their kids in one way or another but what all of this led to, what I realized was that unless I accept myself, unless I am OK with myself and unless I respect and love myself I couldn't possibly expect others to show me the same. And this sense of personal responsibility was the second seed toward change. You see, as much as it seems from the above that I am doing this so that others will love me, I have come to realize that I am doing this for me... and only me.
Then, in January my husband's friend comes to visit.. and I don't recognize him... seriously, different human being. I felt like on candid camera where they do a switcheroo, you know? And he tells me about how he got sleeved... and he is patient with me and talks to me, explains, shows, guides me and before I know it I know that this is what I want. I just do, it makes sense, it all clicks, falls into place... damn in, I want it and I want it now!!!
I talk to 3 different surgeons even though I have to pay for consults... one can't even be bothered to look me in the eyes... he's Mr super busy and important... you know, like a factory assembly line, you're just a number, not a human being. The second is nice...patient, knowledgeable but his staff is not well organized. Then I went to see my friend's surgeon. Staff and surgeon... good call; I clicked and knew I had found my surgeon. Of course I did my research, I read reviews, reached out to people but first impressions are so important.
My insurance requires 6 months of documented visits. I was ready to have the surgery; I was excited; I didn't want to wait.. I even considered doing this out of pocket but thankfully cooler heads prevailed. I still think 6 months is too long but I'm halfway there.
I am hopeful to have a surgery date in september for my sleeve.
I still do my homework, I day-dream and I make lists, I fantasize about shopping sprees (which will be fun now, not torture... right guys?) but I'm not in laland in terms of expectation. I think I have a pretty solid grasp on the difficulties ahead. I'm going to therapy to prepare mentally.

I have an incredibly supportive husband who's been with me through thick (and will be with me through thin!!)

And with your support I know I can do this.

Updates will follow!