mommy_vsg

First and foremost I don't want to get all grandma like on ya but it makes you kinda get a little teary eyed. What a story to tell the little one.....talk about determination!!!!! I don't know what your position in life is about having a baby right now but something in this universe says NOW is the time if a pregnancy can get through all those hoops and still come out OK!!
It may complicate weight loss and muddy up the nutritional Water a bit but by golly a baby is a pretty amazing reason to slow down the weight loss......you can still get healthy during a pregnancy!!!!

It’s been a while omg hey guys!

Ok so I could never understand before and after having surgery how people gain back their weight and sometimes more.
I was sleeved over 2 years ago and now that I can eat whatever I want I completely understand the struggle.
I still till this day can’t eat full meals like I would have a little bit of everything and just pick at the plate until I’m done which takes like an hour or two honestly, my problem is snacking. I can eat everything from snickers to Doritos and it’s just so annoying because having the self control is more like mind control. I always tell myself I don’t need it yet sometimes I still end up getting candy or a salty snack.
My lowest weight has been 140, I recently went through a bad break up in April. I was 143 pounds and now I am 165 pounds. I’ve been eating junk food like crazy and even though it’s stress eating I need to find other ways.

Can anyone recommend health Snacks?

In the mean time I’m going to try and “reset” my sleeve. I called my surgeon about this a few days ago before I made this post (what a great guy he actually listened to me for a good hour) and he told me to start over from liquid diet to soft foods then reg and to keep going to the gym.

Start: 316 • 12/14/2016
Current: 165
Lowest: 140


& here’s pic

Great question, my response...
1. Remember why you had the surgery every day.
2. Stick to the plan
3. If you don't see the weight falling off, don’t sweat it because it will...soon
4. Be discipline and avoid an abundance of sugar and carbs.
5. Read labels if the card and sugar count is high push away from it. Again remember why you had the surgery it will help.
6. Remember, you can lose all the weight and get healthy and go right back to where you started. There are many people who have gained the weight back.
7. Remember, the surgery is just a tool, not a quick fix. You have to put in the work daily.
8. Drink your water!!!
I hope this helps and if you need to call me you are welcome yo do so.
2/20/2020

2/20/2019

I looked pretty scrawny when I got to my lowest weight, but things kind of re-distribute after awhile and most people eventually look way better. Like you, my low weight was in a normal BMI range for me, though.
as for trying to gain weight, don't forget that most of us gain 10-20 lbs during year 2 or 3 (some, unfortunately, gain more than that - some WAY more). I've put on 24 lbs since I hit my lowest weight, which I'm sick about and trying to re-lose. I don't want to be at my thinnest again as it was too light for me, but I would LOVE to lose 10-15 lbs, and it's a real bear. I personally wouldn't try to gain weight because you're likely to do so on your own without much effort once you're in year 2 or 3. In the mean time, things will shift around and you'll likely look much better in about six months, even at your current weight.

I'm scheduled for mid May, haven't heard of changes yet. With the current situation they will need to keep all available beds and ventilators open I'm guessing until we see the curve going down.
It is extremely frustrating to be told we have to wait. I do pray you are able to get re scheduled as quickly as is possible.
I pray you and everyone stay healthy and safe from the virus.

It's such a weird feeling, I don't feel full as much as I feel like I couldn't physically take another bite. Totally different feeling to when I'd stuff myself with food to the point of nausea and vomiting. But a much better feeling. I think it must be like the feeling a person with a heathy relationship with food must feel when they put their fork down. I'm amazed that I sit down to my tiny bowl of food, take 6 bites, and I'm done. And I'm close to 6 months out!

Your body reacts to rapid weight loss by filling all those empty fat cells with Water. It is water weight. Keep on your plan, stay off the scale for a week or 10 days, keep drinking water. Been there, and it does go away.

I agree with all of this.
I knew I was done when I could see every rib and I would have been embarrassed for people to see them. There were some tops I couldn't buy or wear because the collars were too low and people could see a bunch of bones (I'm fine with my collarbones showing - but my ribs, no - that was a bit too much). Plus I had a DEXA scan once which showed a fat percentage of 22% (which is considered lean for a woman) - yet I lost another 15 or so pounds after that -- meaning my body fat was probably WAY too low when I was at my lowest weight. I wanted to at least get back up to a 22% body fat range. Also, I wanted to be at a weight that I could maintain without too much difficulty. I was totally fine with having to watch what I ate and counting calories - as well as getting regular, moderate exercise - but anything where I'd have to take extreme measures to maintain a low weight - no, I didn't want that.
that said, one can always lose more weight. But at some point, do you want to continue doing so - for all those reasons Summerset listed?

Hmmmmmmmmm, IMO I think this is a tough question to answer because one has to take several things into consideration, "desired weight" (can you hear this little voice of vanity in the head?) is unfortunately just one. When I look at BMI 30 my gut reaction is: "You're not done and there is wiggle room!" - but this is just gut reaction and looking at the weight/BMI only.
IMO one should keep several things in mind, e. g.:
- how do you feel physically at this weight?
- how healthy are you now?
- do you like yourself when looking into the mirror? (loose skin being out of the equation)
- does the possibility of having to exercise more sound appalling or appealing?
- do you want to restrict your diet even more?
- you you think you could be happy at the weight you're now?
An interesting concept is that of "best weight". https://obesitycanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Best-Weight-Book.pdf
I think the whole PDF is worth a read but the concept of best weight is explained on page 12 and I think it can be applied to WLS patients as well:

Lord yes...and I'm SIX YEARS post op! It took me over a year to actually train my eyeballs to know the amount I could eat. I still find myself filling a plate all the time then I sit down and 6 bites into it I'm done. All a part of the head games I suppose.
What I will do, though, is still order certain things with the absolute intent of eating my portion then having a specific amount of leftovers. I will pre-PLAN for the leftovers and exactly how/when I will use them so it's not wasted. For example if we eat out on Thursday nights I know to not order anything with leftovers because Friday lunch at work is always something that I can/will eat so the leftovers would be wasted. Works well most of the time!

It's been 10 years since I had my VSG. I honestly never really think about the fact I've had surgery due to how long it's been. I'm used to eating small portions. I typically either share meals or order kids meals. I will admit there have been times when I'm eating somewhere that has amazing food that I really want mentally but my stomach says I have no more room. That rarely happens, maybe once a year.

I always order normal, but never like i did pre surgery. The food sits too long in the fridge and then has to go in the trash.. Now.. automatically half goes in the freezer and i am 16 months out.. almost 17.

I'm 14 months out, and although I can eat anything I want, my tummy still reminds me of volume. I find that the things I used to love eating a LOT of - like stir fry veggies, just don't sit so well any more. I can eat out anywhere (except now!) or fix any kind of food, and in that sense, things are back to normal. But volume is definitely not the same - THANKFULLY!
I am presently enduring 2 weeks of home isolation due to COVID-19 symptoms, which are resolving without any problems, but I admit that there has been heightened anxiety/stress during all this. I am utterly dismayed to find myself resorting to food for comfort - I thought I had that one licked, but it has raised its ugly head, and I have gained 5 pounds! I have been too tired to exercise, so I have been a couch potato/food addict for nearly 2 weeks, and now I am paying the price. But.... I am now back on track with starting some exercise again, tracking my food, intermittent fasting, and working on my emotional issues. It feels MUCH BETTER to be in control of the food, rather than the food being in control of me. I need to hold this thought and remember that the long term reward greatly outweighs the short term gratification.

I'm just over a year out from surgery, and I have never forgotten. I actually think that's a good thing, because it means I think about everything I put in my mouth.

Yep, that one last bite isn't the same as before surgery. My mind was thinking, you are eating such a small amount of food, the one more bite isn't going to hurt. Oh does it hurt and terribly bad.
My goal is to monitor what my full is, before I physically feel full. This is my immediate goal during April, learning "Ariel's " likes, dislikes, when she's had enough without hurting both of us, lol.

Apparently, according to my doctor, the problem has been with not chewing enough. Now that I have graduated from "soft" food, to food with more substance, I have to focus more on my chewing the food thoroughly. Otherwise, my tummy gets overwhelmed and sets a signal to stop eating so it can cope with the bigger bites, before the pouch actually gets full. So I stop eating, but the pouch is not full, and I feel hungry again right away.
This makes a lot of sense, and I've been much more satiated for a longer period of time now that I'm back to the 30 chews rule
GreenTealael, you were absolutely right on the money!

You *may be* eating too quickly and not chewing thoroughly,so your satiety is not prompted before the food triggers the restriction feeling (this has personally happened to me plenty of times 😒)
Try chewing and eating as slow as possible to see if there is any noticeable difference
Good Luck ❤

Thanks love! And yes ma'am. The best advice I can give is to follow your surgeon's directions for each stage and when you get to the regular food stage, do what is sustainable for you. I definitely wouldn't compare what you are eating to anyone else, because everyone's body and how different foods effect them is different. Also what works for some may not work for the next. So if it's working for you regardless of what someone else is doing, keep doing it. And if you do decide to eat a "No no" food, moderation and self control is key

So great to hear. Your weight loss is really impressive! Any tips for post-op diet stages?

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the tips. I’m just extra nervous considering the situation. Don’t want to mess up.

For the record @creekimp13 I was “following medical advice” I was on birth control. It failed. I’ve already talked to my doctors and my surgeons and the nutritionist. They haven’t been very helpful so thanks but no thanks for the lack of advice and support. Everyone on my medical team has said this happens sometimes, it’s known this surgery can increase your fertility. And btw I work in medicine so I’m aware of the risks, hence the birth control.

Hi everyone.

I’m new here trying to do some research and see if anyone has experienced the same as me and can help. I’m over a year post op from gastric sleeve. My weight loss has slowed and I’m pretty stable where I am.

i have a two year old (pre surgery) and want to have another baby. I’ve got pregnant straight away from trying but keep Miscarrying around 5 weeks. I can’t seem to get past this point 3 times now.

My first pregnancy was text book perfect. The only difference from then to now is my surgery and weight loss. I know they say to wait 12-18 months after surgery but from all I can tell this is just to avoid getting pregnant whilst rapidly losing weigh causing possible malnutrition.

I’m going to make an appointment with the doctor to do some bloods and see if I’m lacking in anything that might be causing the miscarriages.

anyone experience anything similar?

Hi! A little about me. I am almost 40 pounds down pre op. My surgeon approved me for VSG surgery and I’m going through Kaiser’s Program here in Sacramento. I find out what day my surgery will be on Thursday! So I’m looking at a August date! Would be nice to get to know other ladies who are going through the same program as me or Kaiser in general☺️

Hey everyone!! I had the sleeve done in June of 2018. I lost almost 60 lbs. My start weight at point of surgery was approx. 200 and I got down to 143 within 4 months after surgery. I then got pregnant and successfully delivered my baby boy on August 1, 2019. On day of delivery I weighed 174. Since delivery I’m down to 147 and it hasn’t been a month yet. The sleeve worked during pregnancy and even now. I monitored my weight and continued to eat good while pregnant. But mostly I’m never hungry.

I said all this to say that it is possible to be pregnant within the first year of getting the sleeve surgery and maintain your weight. Just monitor everything and remember to be as healthy as you can!

Below are pictures of before pregnancy at 143, me at 9 months and me today at 147!!!



FYI: I had a csection so I’m sure I still have inflammation.

I just went through the 3-week stall and wondered when the next one would happen. Gosh, mine only lasted about 4 days and drove me nuts now you're telling me a one or two week stall is coming up. I will have to stop getting on the scale daily. It just sits there each morning saying step on me. Thanks for the heads up, and I will try to be patient on the long journey ahead.

Oh wow i am sorry to hear this. It was definitely nothing but the grace of God that they were able to see the tumor during your surgery and catch it early. Definitely praying for you! ❤️