MarkLewis

I had my VSG done by Dr. Jaime Ponce in Chattanooga for $12,000 plus a $250 consultation fee. This covered all the pre-op testing, etc. I had a one night stay in the hospital and all post-op visits are covered. All in all a great experience with almost no issues other than getting oral thrush and Constipation from the Iron supplements. I highly recommend his practice as the staff is extremely efficient and the hospital (CHI Memorial) was awesome.

The PA at the practice told me recently that I need to eat more calories. I was eating about 1200, and she wants me to move up to 1500 and perhaps 1700 on days that I exercise particularly hard. The biggest thing for me is to track everything that I eat and adjust appropriately. I have a huge fear of regaining weight, so I will back off on calories if I feel I am at risk and see how it goes. I think we all constantly adjust to keep on track.

I was on Metformin and left the hospital without taking any meds again (been 15 weeks). My sugars are routinely in the mid-70's in the morning. I might need to eat a few more carbs...

I plan to lie as well. It is no ones business but ours who we want to share with. I figure my statement of I am making lifestyle changes is accurate without mentioning surgery. Also, I find it a bit rude if a coworker or acquaintance to ask such personal questions. I told 4 people who I know can keep a secret!

To each their own and viva la difference!
I just believe I'm not the poster child for WLS awareness and feel that this is my story to tell to whom I choose. Most people do not possess the "need-to-know" security clearance for this.
It has nothing to do with stigmas for me. It has to do with not wanting to be the subject of idle curiosity and commentary. Gossip about someone else.

My business is my business, if I want to tell people that’s my decision... I shouldn’t have to walk around with a sign around my neck saying “I had bariatric surgery”!!!! So if you had a medical procedure u r saying u should tell everyone!!! Make no sense, your business is your own business to be talked about only if u decide to tell others!!!

I was on Metformin and left the hospital without taking any meds again (been 15 weeks). My sugars are routinely in the mid-70's in the morning. I might need to eat a few more carbs...

I was on Metformin and left the hospital without taking any meds again (been 15 weeks). My sugars are routinely in the mid-70's in the morning. I might need to eat a few more carbs...

I've always planned for 1 or 2 Snacks during the day. For some reason, I've always gotten a little hungry in between Breakfast and lunch. It doesn't matter what I ate for breakfast. So, at the very least I plan for a healthy mid-morning snack.
You'll see a lot of variation in advice given by surgeons and nutritionists. I live very similar to looly above. If I don't find a happy medium of sustainable changes in my lifestyle, I will fail. I know this about myself as a result of battling this over a lifetime. So, for me, moderation is my motto. I allow myself occasional treats. If I find myself getting a little out of control with the treats, I go back to basics.

I'll chime in, just because I haven't seen it mentioned yet. The effective use of snacking in a diet plan is going to also depend on what kind of a relationship you had with food pre-surgery.
Me personally; I was a bulk eater. I would eat once or twice a day, but in huge volume. Now 4 years post op, I snack all the time to meet my macros. My average caloric intake is 2,000. Someone else at my stage may get that in their 3 meals a day, but I prefer to control my hunger throughout the day so that I don't try and over eat.
If you were a grazer pre-op, snacking might not be a good idea.

Think about it like this... if two people eat 800 calories (or whatever their target range is) a day, and one divides that between 3 meals through the day and the other distributes it over 3 meals and 2 or 3 Snacks. Theoretically the person dividing it over three meals will be eating more per sitting which may have the risk of stretching out your stomach. Where if you’re disturbing your total allotment of calories over five or six small meals your stomach never gets in danger of expanding too much. With that being said, if you are someone who had previously struggled with grazing and mindless eating then yes the 5-6 meals a day can be like a trigger.

As we get to the maintenance daily calories range once we get to our goal the chances are you will be easy sitting at 1000 calories a day or more. So again, if you have that over 3 meals a day you are going to be consuming a larger portion then say 5-6 portions.

My doctor told me 3 small meals and 2-3 snacks a day which I really hated at first and still kind of do because I feel like I have to plan more and take the time to make meals that are itty bitty. But all it comes down to is what works for you and being mindful in the process.

Yes, when I say I "snack", it is a cup of yogurt or cottage cheese to get my Protein in for the day. I would consider, in my terminology, a Protein Shake in between meals a snack. I eat my Breakfast at 6:30, have a "snack" (<100 cals) at 9:30, eat lunch about 1:00, have another "snack" at 4:00 and eat dinner at 7-7:30 after the gym. This is the only way i could ever get in enough calories or protein. having said that, I agree with the point that we are all different. I also plan out every crumb of food that goes into my body the night before, so I know exactly how much I am eating, etc.

I plan my intake pretty carefully and given the small amount of food I can eat at a sitting, I have to eat every 3 hours or so to get my calories and Protein in for the day. No way I could hit my targets if I didn't. My program has a calorie goal of 1,200 at this point going forward. I struggle to get to that number even with eating every three hours. I think part of my slowdown in weight loss is just not getting enough calories.

I am 7.5 weeks out from my VSG. I am pretty darn happy about these results. My fasting glucose was an 82. Have others seen these kinds of dramatic shifts?

I am 7.5 weeks out from my VSG. I am pretty darn happy about these results. My fasting glucose was an 82. Have others seen these kinds of dramatic shifts?

I agree, my health, especially the diabetes control was my number one reason for getting the VSG. Thanks for sharing your great progress.

I am 7.5 weeks out from my VSG. I am pretty darn happy about these results. My fasting glucose was an 82. Have others seen these kinds of dramatic shifts?

I got cleared to lift weights and go back to regular activities by the end of week 6. I go to the gym 4 times per week (2 weightlifting, 2 spin class).

All,
Here is what I ate yesterday:
Breakfast: coffee, CarbMaster Peach Cottage cheese
Snack: PowerCrunch bar
Lunch: Leftover Pot Roast (3 oz) and one small red potato
Snack: Two Good low fat, low sugar yogurt
Dinner: Leftover bean/beef casserole (1/2 serving)
Snack: CarbSmart vanilla Ice Cream
Nutrition: 1,188 calories, 85g Protein, 56g Carbs, 17g Fiber, 67g Fat
My program has me targeting 1,200 calories per day. I weigh pretty much everything that isn't packaged and track it all in MyFitnessPal.
How does this compare to a typical day? I am 8 weeks out and have been on "normal food" for the last 3 weeks. It is sometimes a struggle to get in near 1,200 calories, that is why i spread everything out in 5 "meals". My weight loss has really slowed, but I am doing very well staying in the guidelines so I think it will pick back up.

All,
Here is what I ate yesterday:
Breakfast: coffee, CarbMaster Peach Cottage cheese
Snack: PowerCrunch bar
Lunch: Leftover Pot Roast (3 oz) and one small red potato
Snack: Two Good low fat, low sugar yogurt
Dinner: Leftover bean/beef casserole (1/2 serving)
Snack: CarbSmart vanilla Ice Cream
Nutrition: 1,188 calories, 85g Protein, 56g Carbs, 17g Fiber, 67g Fat
My program has me targeting 1,200 calories per day. I weigh pretty much everything that isn't packaged and track it all in MyFitnessPal.
How does this compare to a typical day? I am 8 weeks out and have been on "normal food" for the last 3 weeks. It is sometimes a struggle to get in near 1,200 calories, that is why i spread everything out in 5 "meals". My weight loss has really slowed, but I am doing very well staying in the guidelines so I think it will pick back up.

I am on week 4 (soft foods) and my program has me trying to get 800-1000 calories. The most I have gotten in 900, but more likely 800. I try to eat something every 2-3 hours and then supplement with a shake to get in my Protein and calories. At the end of week 4, I will be down 30 pounds or so. I am getting much better recognizing the signs when my pouch is full.

I am on week 4 (soft foods) and my program has me trying to get 800-1000 calories. The most I have gotten in 900, but more likely 800. I try to eat something every 2-3 hours and then supplement with a shake to get in my Protein and calories. At the end of week 4, I will be down 30 pounds or so. I am getting much better recognizing the signs when my pouch is full.

I also get nauseous when taking the chewable vitamins. The NP at my surgeon's office said I could switch to pill at my next delivery so I called the pharmacy and made the switch. Hopefully, this will be better.

Good thing they had the drool guard hooked up!! 🙂

November 19, 2018: My lovely wife took this picture of me right before they whisked me away to surgery. I wanted to memorialize this last point before my surgery.