Iluvbats

Just wanted to drop a note of encouragement to the folks who are considering surgery, pre-surgery, in the early recovery stages. I had VSG on May 20, 2021 and started out 355 lbs. In a year, I'm down to 237.2. Life is so much easier, I have so much more stamina, and I'm so glad I had surgery and didn't get cold feet. Once I was out of the recovery phase it has been amazing how normal life feels, even if it's a new normal. I am wishing you the best and keep at it! ❤️
 

I'm 4 months post-op sleeve and I have had several stalls. One thing that helps me is not seeing the scale go UP! I stay at the same weight for a couple of weeks and then I might lose a pound. I totally Celebrate that pound and I say, even out loud: "I'll take it!" Reason: I got to this point in my life because I did stupid fad diets and wrecked my metabolism and my body. This is my last chance to get this right. I figure it will take me a year to get to 50 lb weight lost and then another 6 months to a year to get to my goal. But, I WILL GET THERE in the end!

Excellent idea! Sometimes we forget what works and need someone to remind us! [emoji1433][emoji1433][emoji1433]

I have the same problem! I am now 4 months post op. I don't lose weight every week and I believe that is partly to my psych make up and past history with food. If I get hungry I inevitably think I'm going to starve. As kids, we always went to bed hungry due to having a mentally deranged "mother." My husband tells me: You're not going to starve! So I tell myself: "You're not going to starve!" Cheating with food was an accepted norm for me because I didn't/don't want to feel like that deprived kid anymore. It's a struggle but I'm so glad I accepted the challenge to be on this journey. I can't wait until "I get there!"

@ClarkKent
It is a tough journey but I still know that this is the best decision I ever made weight loss wise. If anyone dare say to me I "took the easy way out" I swear I will slap them! Jk 😉

Excellent idea! Sometimes we forget what works and need someone to remind us! [emoji1433][emoji1433][emoji1433]

@ClarkKent
It is a tough journey but I still know that this is the best decision I ever made weight loss wise. If anyone dare say to me I "took the easy way out" I swear I will slap them! Jk 😉

Just had surgery with Top Plastic Surgeons Dr. Juan Bernardo Baltazar Rendon. I feel extremely foolish. After the surgery, care provided was horrible. I had a big Tummy Tuck, Lipo in 6 areas and a small leg lift. They treated me with Ketoralec (an anti inflammatory postoperative;y). I am now 5 days out and have run out of those pain medications. I am trying to get home for some care. They wanted me to take Tramadol but it interacted with a medication I take and I had serotonin syndrome after surgery. It was hell. Then they said dont take tramadol but they would not give me anything else.

I am a Nurse. They also did things like wound care without gloves and hand washing with care providers was rare. They also came into my room, got a blanket they gave to me post-operatively, and gave it to someone else. Different standards I guess.
Keep looking people. It is not worth the savings.

Why I would not choose this practice:
1) Little to no pain management post-operatively. Prescribed Tylenol, Tramadol, and ketoralec. Unable to take Tramadol to due a drug interaction. They would not add or change me to anything else so I was only given 7 days of Ketorolec. Prior to booking my flight to Mexico, I asked my surgical consultant David Suez about pain medication and he told me they prescribe percocet and flexeril, which is standard in the US. When I asked for pain management help, they told me to take more Ketoralec (Toradol).
2) Poor accommodations: beds and pillows are hard, shower has no door and gets wet everywhere, lounge chair is low to the ground. TV is in Spanish with the exception of CNN. Next to a busy and loud road.
3) They provide you with incorrect information. A doctor does not visit you daily at your hotel. A doctor you don't know comes to check you dressings every other day. This interaction is minimal. She does nothing to help you in any way. Though, patronizingly, she says "everything is OK".
4) Do not travel alone after these surgeries. You really need help for the first 3-5 days.

I'm 4 months post-op sleeve and I have had several stalls. One thing that helps me is not seeing the scale go UP! I stay at the same weight for a couple of weeks and then I might lose a pound. I totally Celebrate that pound and I say, even out loud: "I'll take it!" Reason: I got to this point in my life because I did stupid fad diets and wrecked my metabolism and my body. This is my last chance to get this right. I figure it will take me a year to get to 50 lb weight lost and then another 6 months to a year to get to my goal. But, I WILL GET THERE in the end!

I know I have read alot of stuff about being head hungry and not stomach hungry. I don't know if this is solid advice or will even help but when I am combating hunger I eat a sugar free popsicle and it helps me thru so much.

I just had surgery 3 weeks ago and I'm hungry all the time, although I can't eat very much at once. Has your hunger settled down? Everyone always talked about not being hungry after surgery and then they just tell me I'm not really hungry!

Another option for the Protein is the clear Protein Drinks. I found a good one in lemon flavor on Amazon that iced down is very good. You get 20 grams of protein in 16 ounces. It is called READY protein. I use it when I am not feeling like drinking a shake which is more and more the norm lately.

I know my emotions and hormones were all over the place. It is for sure one tough journey.

So happy to see everyone doing so well! I had my sleeve on June 16. I am down approximately 33 lbs. My weight loss has slowed to a crawl but I am 5'1" and alot older than most people so for me, this is good. I have been experiencing excruciating hunger pains for some time. The first 6 - 8 weeks was the worst. Has anyone else experienced this? I feel like I'm going through some sort of "withdrawal" symptoms. Definitely not fun!

The month of August has been rough on me as far as weight loss. I started back doing in person work and they brought in catered food every single day of the first week. It derailed me a bit. Now, I am starting to get back on track with my Protein and Water.

Oh my gosh, yes! I've definitely dealt with that as well on two separate occasions. I would have a moment where I would look at the delicious food on my plate and think "just one more bite" and was in complete and total misery afterwards. The way our bodies react to that definitely make it something I want to avoid. I remember being up and walking around the last time with my eyes to the sky saying "please let this pass quickly...I swear I will NOT do this again" LOL It is DEFINITELY a celebration when you recognize when to stop and actually do it! Remembering that just because is is "our portion" doesn't mean we have to eat it all. Such incredibly valuable lessons we are all learning. I really feel like mastering all of this and really listening to our bodies is going to lead to success in the long term!

Yes!!! My big learning curve involved leaving food on the plate. Even when measuring out portions I found myself wanting to finish what was on my plate. Twice I had that same sensation and have since recognized that even my 2 Oz of Protein, 1 Oz of veggies and 1 Oz of carbs was more than I could eat. Now I smile at the victory or recognizing when to stop! 🥰

Holy moly....I have been learning some valuable lessons about eating too fast this week. It's been a really busy couple of weeks with lots of highly emotional things happening. This has resulted in quick meals and I found myself eating quickly and not pausing enough between bites. I was starting to feel these waves of discomfort in my chest just below my sternum for 30-45 minutes after eating. I was starting to get concerned and reached out to my nutritionist and she explained what I was feeling was my esophagus working to squeeze my food down into my small stomach. Basically I was eating too fast causing things to "back up" and making my esophagus work harder which was causing the discomfort. Lesson learned. I've been very committed to setting the timer on my watch and pausing between bites. Since doing that, no discomfort at all. Eating slowly is definitely something that I have to really put forth a very focused effort on. It is amazing to watch people during meals when I do this. I never realized just how FAST everyone eats. It's like a whirlwind and they are done. Meanwhile there I am, putting my fork down for what feels like eternity. I am looking forward to this habit feeling like second nature and now FULLY understand why it's so important on making it happen.

Excellent! I can't sing to save my life but I have friends who can. What a gift!

Today marked my one month sleeve-versary! I’ve lost from 1-3 inches throughout my body. The scale has been stuck for a while for me. My nutritionist told me I’m not getting in enough Protein so it’ll be hard to support fat loss. I like focusing on fat loss instead of weight loss. My greatest struggle is getting enough Fiber to support healthy bowels. I get bloated sometimes. Still navigating through learning my hunger and full cues. My scars are almost invisible! I’m so impressed with the overall surgery. I’m looking forward to more consistent results.
Hope you all are doing well!

I'm sorry you had a bad day! If it makes you feel any better, I took a Xan myself today, lol. It just seemed overwhelming! Not anything to do with the surgery or eating, just LIFE. It WILL get better! I think it happens to all of us. We get in a "routine" to adapt to "eating like this" for so many days, then we have to change it to another way of eating, Vitamin taking, Water, Protein intake, bowel monitoring. I am 17 days out and still have some days that I feel FINE, then like today, "enough pain for Tylenol". But the GOOD news is, the dr told me yesterday that this pain WILL go away THIS week

Ive been pretty good staying positive and focusing on non scale victories like walking every day but this week has been a doozy for emotions.
Oh my! What kind of songs do you sing? I wish I could sing. Do you get stage fright?

Ive been pretty good staying positive and focusing on non scale victories like walking every day but this week has been a doozy for emotions.
Oh my! What kind of songs do you sing? I wish I could sing. Do you get stage fright?

Emotionally roller coaster:
Yesterday I was so upset! I didn't blow my top but I wanted to. I finally ended up taking my anxiety meds and calling it a day. Today I'm super depressed.
Anyone else running the gamut of emotions?

Hey y’all- day 6 here & feeling great. No incision pain, just normal bruising discomfort. I haven’t needed prescription pain meds at all, just Tylenol. No stomach pain, but taking small sips. Only challenge is I ended up with thrush- yuck! But got medicine for that and it’s fine. Cannot stand Protein Shakes anymore, so mostly living off of Soup with unflavored Protein Powder mixed in. No problem getting enough Protein & Water. I’ve been using the Baritastic app and it’s perfect- I often have more water & protein than I realize.