rene50

No, I'm sorry I don't know anyone else who was his patient. Dr. Hidalgo does surgeries at a few different hospitals in PVR, and CMQ seemed to have the best reputation. Good luck, and yes, I know it is a very nerve wrecking process and you want to make sure you make the right decison. I am over a year out now and have had no problems. I'm 3 pounds away from my orginal goal, but I seem to be holding steading at this weight, and that's okay with me. Wishing you the best!

I'm seven months out and have had alcohol several times. My surgeon said no alcohol for 6 months, but I had a few glasses of wine at a party at 5 months out. I don't drink on a regular basis, and never more than a few glasses of wine, but I haven't noticed it has a differnet affect than before surgery.

21 hours ago, sillykitty said:

In the very first post @GreenTealael laid out the intent of this thread

"Like weight loss before and after photos but of your new diet !

I'm especially interested in before and after meal photos (take a pic at the point you feel restriction) but it can be of recipe substitutions, your refrigerator/pantry/shopping cart/etc"

If a more narrowly focused thread is of interest to you, they exist or you can create a new one.

Of course, my sincere apologies! I should have read the first post and the intent of this thread.

29 minutes ago, MotoZen said:

I'm scheduled for VSG in August after having two delays already this year due to covid-19. I know from extensive research on the subject that the rate of loss in the first 6 months is determined, by and large, by genetics (and after that it's all on me for the rest of my life in terms of diet and exercise). Yet as I get closer to the date, I find myself thinking about my genes - something I have no control over... and it's not like there aren't already enough post-surgery things to worry about that I do have control over.

I'm having WLS to lose a lot of weight that I haven't been able to lose and keep off on my own with diet and exercise. I'm already doing everything I can to prepare for life-long healthy psychological and lifestyle changes after surgery, but man, I would be devastated if surgery didn't give me the result I hope it will. I should add that haven't had DNA tests to confirm whether or not I have genetic variables such as the FTO gene that contribute to obesity, just because of the costs involved with the tests.

Just curious if anyone else worried about this, specifically, before surgery. Or am I the only one? Also, if it turned out that you were genetically a slower loser (and by that I mean following instructions to the letter including exercising and keeping fat, carbs, and calories low for 6 months or longer), did you eventually reach your goal weight and if you did, how long did it take? Thanks for your replies.

I guess I'm a slow loser,probably genitics and age. I'm very happy with 60 pounds in 5.5 months. Now, I'm only losing a pound a week. My surgeon told me that losing slowly is best for excess skin. I think he is right. Even at my age, I'm not looking at surgery. A little flabby in tummy, thighs and arms but swimming is helping a lot. I'm still 20 pounds from goal, but feeling good that I'll make my goal.

Look at you, girl! You look amazing! Thank you so much for sharing.

For years, my doctor has told me to stop dieting. In fact, she's told me all the dieting I've done has made me fatter. She's preached lifestyle change, over and over, but I just couldn't make the change until now. She wasn't onboard with my surgery because I didn't have health issues, but I think she might be changing her mind because I'm doing so well. I haven't lost crazy-fast and I'm feeling great, labs are good. I'm only 5.5 months out, so it's still new, but I'm listening to my doc now. No crazy diets, just eating healthy and exercising. Maybe, just maybe, the surgery got me on track!

Do you feel you have finally made a lifestyle change ?

On 4/22/2020 at 6:11 PM, rlknight said:

I weighed about 315 pounds before I had my surgery. I had my surgery October 2011 somewhere around there. Now I weigh 177.1 and I really want to lose some more weight. I want to get down to 130 pounds but I have no idea where to even start. Is there anyone who can help me please?

Oh my goodness, you have done great! What stands out to me is that your surgery was in 2011 and you have maintained a 138 pound loss. I understand wanting to get to that ultimate goal, but how do you feel? Do you feel healthy at 177? We all want to be little-minnies, but what is reasonable for our age and height? You have done an amazing job, so I think you've got the eating under control, so maybe a new excercise regime that you like? Personally, I hate most exercise, but I love bike riding when not too hot, swimming, and yoga. I will never step foot on a treadmill or in a gym. 'Aint gonna happen! LOL!

I try to stay in the same calorie range 800-1000, and less than 50 carbs, even when doing heavy exercise. I'm still losing, only a pound a week now on average.

I'll be at 6 months in a few weeks, and yes, I can eat more than a 1/2 a cup, but not more than a cup. I'm still losing, but much slower. Our surgeries must have been around the same time. How about you? Can you eat more than 1/2 cup now?

6 minutes ago, myspeakgeek said:

--- Morning Update 7/10/2020 ---

I was on my way to getting discharged. However my wife trusted her instincts and requested them to do another x ray. Thankfully she did because it looks like the Fluid is back. Tomorrow they are going to be putting in a chest tube to continually drain the area and I will be here a few more days. Trying my best to stay positive, I'll admit a few tears have leaked out though.

I am so sorry! A chest tube is serious, I know. You will be in my prayers.

Just a note, my nails are better than they have been my entire life.

I'm in the same boat. Five months out and my hair is falling out like crazy despite taking Biotin and an arrary of other Vitamins. My thick, beautiful hair, is now thin. Thankfully, no bald spots. I've read that at 6 months it subsides for most people, and I sure hope that's the case. Reading CannonRoar's post scares the beegeebeezies out of me!

I'm so sorry you've expereinced so many complications. May I ask where you had your surgery? Here's my take, and it's just based on the people I know, very limited: the people who have had it at local hospitals have ALL had some kind of problem. Every single person I know! The people who have it in Mexico or Las Vegas seem to do better. I think the surgeons in our area just don't have the volume and they are not as proficient as the surgeons who perform 1-2 a day. You also have to be careful about choosing a place where the surgeons perform too many surgeries a day.

Same here, no pain. I did feel a little "tug" in my stomach when standing up. I certainly wouldn't classify as pain.

I did the same thing; ate everything I loved before surgery. I mean EVERYTHING! Crazy eating disorder behavior! After surgery, it was amazing how my appetite changed. I never would have believed I would feel full after a cup of broth. LOL! You will, I promise. It is an amazing tool. The first 30-35 pounds flew off, no issues! Now, I'm having to work at it, but the restriction is still there and I keep losing 1-2 pounds most weeks. I don't have the cravings for the copious amounts of carbohydrates. I know a lady who had VSG 6 months before me. She's only lost 25 pounds in 11 months. From what I've gathered, she's eating the same things she ate before surgery on a more frequent basis. She is so sad and I feel terrible for her, but I really think she had to TRY HARD to eat enough to have such minimal results. I think she still has some restriction because she tells me about throwing up. I've never, not once, thrown up. I have felt nauseated after taking vitatmins, but never vomited.

I am so enjoying the turn this tread has taken. Your healthy meals have given me ideas! Seeing pictures of meals of 2-3 bites missing is just silly to me, although I know people are happy about their restriction. I love my restriction too, but sharing healthy meal ideas is so helpful to me.

Wow, Jake! You have had amazing results, and i think the fact that you've altered your lifestyle is probably the key to your success. Thanks so much for sharing!

I'm still overweight, but I no longer feel fat, if that makes sense. LOL! I'm not actually going for skinny, but I want to look good in clothes and be healthy. I've gone from a size 20, and now I'm in 14, a 12 in some things. I'll be happy with 1 more reduction in size, I think.

On 6/27/2020 at 5:22 PM, FWJ said:

OK guys. So I went for a 5 month check up and I am officially down 60 pounds!!!! I started at 252 and I am now at 191! The doctor is very pleased with my progress... My GP wants me to get to 160. I am good with 175.

I think we can all agree that at this point we are all happy with our decisions!!!! I am down from a size 22w to a size 16, with those getting bigger!!! I can no longer shop in the Plus size department!!!! I have not been this size since middle school!!!

Congrats! We started at about the same weight and have had about the same weight loss. Do you feel good at 190? I wanted to get to 160, but may be okay with 170. Loose skin is not a big issue right not, but it is noticible to me. I'm not sure how my arms and legs will look at 160. I'm 57 years old, so not sure how well my skin is going to snap back! LOL! How old are you? I'm in a size 14, which feels great, but a 12 would be even better, so I definately want to lose another 15-20 pounds. Neither one of us is in a plus size anymore, praise the Lord!!!

Ugh! I fell your pain. I'm 5 months post-op and my hair started falling out about 3 weeks ago. It is awful. Thankfully, I had very thick hair, so I'm dealing with it, and I think the Hair loss has started to slow. I take Biotin and get plenty of Calcium, Protein and Iron through supplements and food. I think hair loss is just part of WLS, but it's temporary, so I wouldn't worry unless it is still excessive at the 6 month mark.

I'm so sorry they pointed out your loose skin which I'm sure you had already noticed. I'm dealing with the same thing and have been excercising religiously, light arm weights, yoga, bike riding and swimming. I also put coconut oil on my arms, legs and neck, although I have no idea if this really helps, just read it somehwhere, so figured it couldn't hurt. LOL! I saw a young lady yesterday who is 4 years post surgery, and her arms looked worse than mine, but she's lost more than 100 pounds. From my reading, I think toning and building muscle will help some, but there's no absolute fix unless you have surgery, which I am not considering. Like others mentioned, I am hoping my skin will tighten a little after a year, but I'm 57, so it may not, and I'm okay with that because I still look and feel better. How old are you? It's the very top of my thighs and my batwings that bother me, but, oh well. At my age, I'm not trying to get skinny, just healthy, and if I feel good at 170, I may try to maintain that to avoid more sagging, instead of losing to 160.

Hi guys. Just checking in. I'm down 41 pounds and feeling great! I would like to lose 25 more pounds, but my weight loss has really slowed, only 1/2 pound last week. No complaints, though, I'm really feeling good.

2 hours ago, Duke483 said:

Had my sleeve on 20 Jan. Time to update.

Doing very well. No issues to speak of.

Down fifty pounds including pre-op.

Pants from 48 to 38, shirts from XXXL to L.

I can now pick up things off the floor.

Very happy.

Wow! That is amazing. You are doing great!

Congratulations! That's a lot of weight in such a short time.

I'm tired of the shelter in place too, but I'm hanging in there. I went on a bike ride today and worked in the yard a bit. My weight loss has slowed down, but I'm definitely eating more. It seems that I'm hungry every 2-3 hours, but I'm eating healthy, so still losing. I'm so thankful we all got our surgery before this pandemic. I feel sorry for all the people who had their surgeries cancelled. That must have been such a let down.