SusieQ_RN

Hi Amy... I am an overweight RN, and thought I was asking my Doc all the right questions when I had the VSG Aug. 1, 2013.
I was approaching 300 lbs when I had the VSG. I had just lost my beautiful husband of 33 years and was grieving pretty hard. After my surgery, I happily lost 135 lbs. When I'd eat too much, the pressure in my sleeve would let me know I'd better stop eating. Thennn I started acclimating to more and more to feel full. I was never told that my sleeve could stretch. I wasn't eating THAT much at one time, but I was "steadily eating" small amounts of cheese, rice cakes, restaurant left-overs, etc in the evenings. This binge eating led me to gain back 45 lbs, and I began to feel hopeless again. I was so ashamed that I refused to return to the surgeon, even though he had an excellent nutritionist on staff.
I saw something on Dr. Oz last week about Intermittent Fasting. I must have been living under a rock, because I had never heard this term before. I began watching YouTube videos (because I am a visual learner and need frequent reinforcement) and one of the coaches used the term "Bulletproof Coffee" I Googled this, and learned the creator was a bio-hacker from Silicon Valley. His "Brain Octane", (high end high-priced coconut oil also referred to as MCT Oil - Medium Chain Triglyceride) costs $28.99 for a 16 oz bottle at Whole Foods, but the less expensive brands of MCT Oil were @ $16.00. I deliberated at the register, and at the last minute I sprung for the Brain Octane. I am thrilled with this choice, for now, but I might try the cheaper MCT Oil when this 16 oz is depleted in several weeks.
The first video I caught on YouTube was a Tedx Talk:
Why fasting bolsters brain power: Mark Mattson at TEDx Talks -
Professor of Neuroscience at The Johns Hopkins University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UkZAwKoCP8
Fasting 12, 16, 18, 20 hours... mostly while you sleep, has INCREDIBLE benefits. I was taught that Breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Watch the professor's video. He encourages his listeners to stop eating after 7 pm, and not to eat again until 11 am the next day, in order to give the body a chance to burn off stored fat (it takes approx 10-12 hours to burn off a typical meal). If you will let your sleeve work FOR you, (most Intermittent Fasters would kill to have the sleeve advantage) I think you will be encouraged, and you'll get to your goal weight !! I have only been doing the Intermittent Fasting 8 days (eating only supper) and a few healthy Snacks for 2-3 hours afterwards, then nothing until the next day. My metabolism has jumped into geer, and i have been a fat-burning machine for just over a week. I lost 12 lbs in 8 days, and this almost-60 year old woman FINALLY has hope again. I have a college reunion to attend in mid Sept, then I plan to start eating lunch again, or alternating my 12-16 hour fasts with my 20 hour fasts. The first 4 days getting rid of carbs can make you hungry, but swallowing a tsp of MCT oil or adding it to one's coffee or shake is so helpful. Good luck with your surgery. You'll do fine !

Hi Amy... I am an overweight RN, and thought I was asking my Doc all the right questions when I had the VSG Aug. 1, 2013.
I was approaching 300 lbs when I had the VSG. I had just lost my beautiful husband of 33 years and was grieving pretty hard. After my surgery, I happily lost 135 lbs. When I'd eat too much, the pressure in my sleeve would let me know I'd better stop eating. Thennn I started acclimating to more and more to feel full. I was never told that my sleeve could stretch. I wasn't eating THAT much at one time, but I was "steadily eating" small amounts of cheese, rice cakes, restaurant left-overs, etc in the evenings. This binge eating led me to gain back 45 lbs, and I began to feel hopeless again. I was so ashamed that I refused to return to the surgeon, even though he had an excellent nutritionist on staff.
I saw something on Dr. Oz last week about Intermittent Fasting. I must have been living under a rock, because I had never heard this term before. I began watching YouTube videos (because I am a visual learner and need frequent reinforcement) and one of the coaches used the term "Bulletproof Coffee" I Googled this, and learned the creator was a bio-hacker from Silicon Valley. His "Brain Octane", (high end high-priced coconut oil also referred to as MCT Oil - Medium Chain Triglyceride) costs $28.99 for a 16 oz bottle at Whole Foods, but the less expensive brands of MCT Oil were @ $16.00. I deliberated at the register, and at the last minute I sprung for the Brain Octane. I am thrilled with this choice, for now, but I might try the cheaper MCT Oil when this 16 oz is depleted in several weeks.
The first video I caught on YouTube was a Tedx Talk:
Why fasting bolsters brain power: Mark Mattson at TEDx Talks -
Professor of Neuroscience at The Johns Hopkins University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UkZAwKoCP8
Fasting 12, 16, 18, 20 hours... mostly while you sleep, has INCREDIBLE benefits. I was taught that Breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Watch the professor's video. He encourages his listeners to stop eating after 7 pm, and not to eat again until 11 am the next day, in order to give the body a chance to burn off stored fat (it takes approx 10-12 hours to burn off a typical meal). If you will let your sleeve work FOR you, (most Intermittent Fasters would kill to have the sleeve advantage) I think you will be encouraged, and you'll get to your goal weight !! I have only been doing the Intermittent Fasting 8 days (eating only supper) and a few healthy Snacks for 2-3 hours afterwards, then nothing until the next day. My metabolism has jumped into geer, and i have been a fat-burning machine for just over a week. I lost 12 lbs in 8 days, and this almost-60 year old woman FINALLY has hope again. I have a college reunion to attend in mid Sept, then I plan to start eating lunch again, or alternating my 12-16 hour fasts with my 20 hour fasts. The first 4 days getting rid of carbs can make you hungry, but swallowing a tsp of MCT oil or adding it to one's coffee or shake is so helpful. Good luck with your surgery. You'll do fine !