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Officially 7 days into pre-op dieting. July 6th is my official VSG date. Its Wednesday so I report my weight with my nutritionist and on the graph page with my user ID. Last Wednesday I said 295lb. When really I was 293.8, but likely for fear of not being successful at losing 15lbs by surgery date, I 'padded' my number..wait, wait, that was sugarcoated hey, ok, I lied because I was afraid of failure, there I said it.  My week has been a breeze, I feel like I'm running on motivation (while carrying a water bottle of course) Now keep in mind, I have been living off green vegetables, steak,chicken,shrimp,coffee,water,and when I cracked I had 5 potato chips. I barely notice the kitchen cupboards are even there anymore, because I know there's no snacks in them that I can have. I open the fridge and inside is my own shelf of what is allowed for me. I swear the entire shelf is green with the exception of the styrofoam carton of eggs on the edge. Yesterday there was a giant box of pizza on the shelf just below, and if it weren't for the smell of the hawaiian (I didn't even have to open the box to be able to tell the type, honest lol) I probably wouldn't have noticed it was there. Essentially, after a week, I'm kind of bored of food for now. Which in my opinion is exactly what I need prior to surgery. Oh, quick note. I have nocturnal epilepsy but I've been seizure free for like 8 or 9 years and take medication-so my concern with this pre-op diet was that it was going to effect me neurologically. I've been perfectly fine, I just make sure to eat proper foods at proper times. 

Now, onto my weigh-in day. I had a $15 scale for 9 years that was like it had been built by NASA, it was the most accurate thing I've ever owned. It broke during bathroom renovations 2 months ago and I was devastated. Some time later, we buy an expensive scale (haha it was like $30) and I can stand on it 5 times in a row and get 5 different numbers, in like a 9lb range, I **** you not. Okay I know its time to get a new one, as soon as my schedule permits. Today however, I need that number or my nutritionist will actually contact me. Deep breaths, I take my first step, 280.2. I step again, but close to the outside edges trying to trick it or something, 280.2. I stand close to the front, 280.2. Close to the back, 280.2. I move the scale to the other side of the bathroom, and stand on it backwards, move it to the hallway stand backwards again, stand on it crouching down, sideways,backwards;The number won't go away. I actually told myself walking into the bathroom that I needed 20 consistent numbers to be convinced (that shows how little faith I have in this scale)

Well, long story short, I'm convinced. 280.2 it is, and I'm not padding my number for once. It feels freeing. A brief idea went through my head as I stood there in my birthday suit, while processing the number that my toes pointed too, that I need to "maintain" this until surgery..that thought bubble immediately morphed into "eff that, I'm going to keep working" and being successful, because its the attitude I will need to have after surgery as well. I don't say this often enough, but GO ME!

Today is a good day, and I have a can of tuna with my name on it that needs eating...yay

Day 2 (pre op diet)

Why is the evening the hardest.....I am working m-friday 8-5pm and then get home and remote in and work 7-9 Mon-Sunday.  This week is a beast. I have gotten dizzy and the room started spinning. But I am just drinking water a ton and trying to , you guessed it remain positive. Sometime I plan on letting my husband read this, so I want to say sorry for snapping at you last night. I know I apologized in so many words but sheesh this is hard. Anyone who has had weight loss surgery clearly knows this is NOT the easy way out. 

I had gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico last July. I'm a bit disappointed that I've only lost 60lbs.

my one big big secret is I've done this all alone. Nobody knows, I mean nobody, not my husband, sister, anyone. You may be asking how did I do it. I told my family I could not come up to our cottage for a week. I booked the flight to Mexico and it all got done in a week. I can't tell my husband as he would divorce me. So this is the first time telling this story, hoping to get support from other sleepers.

I'm a week post op today and I've been walking as much as I can tolerate. I thought I was doing well until I looked at my step count and saw I'm getting 2-3k steps per day. I tried to go out to the park for a walk today and really enjoyed it since the weather is beautiful, and this was the first time I've been outside walking since surgery. Well.. I stayed out too long and didn't have enough steam to get me back home. My large incision was extremely painful and I almost passed going up my stairs   

So I guess my lesson for today is to listen to your body. Right now, I feel challenged at 2k steps per day and I suppose I need to lay off the pressure to do more until I'm better healed. I feel like my activity tolerance should be higher, but I'm not going to push it.

I am 3 weeks post op yesterday for the Sleeve. At my 2 week check up, I had lost 23 lbs. I honestly didn't think I was going to make it through the first 2 weeks. Physically, I was making it through with flying colors !!! No issues, no problems, no pain.. nothing. I stopped the pain medicine the day after I arrived home and just took Tylenol. I am thankful that my surgery went so well.   I felt so good and as if nothing had happened ( and I also had a hernia repair at the same time) ........  BUT....the liquid diet after was horrific for me. I didn't feel full, I just stayed starving and hungry the entire time. It did an emotional number on me. I had Mothers Day to celebrate and fathers birthday to celebrate with a family of eaters. We go "out to eat" for everything !!! A trip to the store for goodness sake, they get something to eat. Yes, you can always bring your own soup... but for me... sitting at that table while t he appetizers and food and deserts are flowing was absolutely HORRIBLE. I just couldn't do it. I would often excuse myself and walk outside or keep taking trips to the bathroom just so I could be away from the table and the food or go sit in my car and cry.

Now, I am 3 weeks post op and I have learned that I don't go. I summoned the courage to tell my family " This is just too hard". I will return with them at the table when I can handle it ... and every day is getting easier... So, when my family gets together on the weekends or evenings for shopping or the zoo, or visiting antique stores ( family hobby)... I ask ahead of time if they will be stopping to eat.. If they do, I take my own car and head home at that point.

I guess my point to this is that no one thing works for everyone. You need to figure out what works and what doesn't work for you. We have diet guidelines but we don't have life guidelines. We have to figure out how to get along in this world after wls  and that isn't always easy. But, if we keep our eye on our goals and realize why we are doing this in the first place, we can make it. This is a journey. We didn't have all the answers before and we won't have them now...But with support and courage, we can find them.

5/20 - Ate the eggplant ricotta bake. I had that foamy feeling in my mouth and the rumbles. I guest eggplant does not sit well in my tummy. Went to the Taco placed and got a naked chicken burrito. I tried their new kind of chicken (FYI The guy failed to inform me that it was chipotle spicy chicken. Oh it tasted delicious. 5 minutes later I was puking up foam. I ended up spending my lunch break laid on the floor in the back of the office curled up in the fetal position. So spicy food does not love me anymore .

5/21 - Did not have any meal prep because the eggplant would not sit well in my tummy. The left over Halal chicken that I had, I spilled pulling it out of the my lunch box (Damn Portion8 container lol) I ended up getting a chicken Salad from the Turkish place downstairs. It was an interesting taste. It was sweet. Felt very disappointed after I weighed in. I only lost 4 oz for that week. I had worked out really hard. I did however notice that my stomach is getting smaller. I might have just lost inches and gained muscle. Lost 8.8 lbs during my second month post-op. Current 220.6 lbs

5/22 - Wanted to get a Protein Drink from Vitamin Shoppe. Ended up getting some Atkins Granola bars. DO NOT BUT THEM. They are delicious, high in protein but have 17g of carbs in one bar but they advertised it at NET Carbs 3g. SNEAKY SNEAKY. I ate two of them and then realized it. They also are 210 calories each. It works because I will be full off of one for 2+ hours however 420 calories on just two bars is a lot. Now I have to be really mindful of what I am reading. When I see low carbs I have to check to see if it says NET (they do some type of convoluted math to get to that low number). Went to the gym before work and the trainer really kicked my butt. I am sore but loving it. Today, we focused on Cardio. Tomorrow he said will be weight lifting. Wish me luck!!! Oh dinner and lunch consist of grilled chicken breast and a dipping sauce that I made (1/4 cup fire roasted tomato sauce and 1/2 tsp of ricotta). Watermelon on the side for snacks. 

Hey everyone i had my vsg on 1 may and in the initial first week i have lost 10kg but now my weight is stuck. Its showing same scale everyday moreover i started feeling hungry now a days no doubt i cant eat to a large portion as i did before bt m on puree diet bt still feel hungry anyone having same problem plz help bcoz this is demoralizing me 

Had my surgery on May 2 and finally into the Puree stage - which I'm told I will be on for 4 weeks. I was back working half days as a clinic nurse the monday after surgery... so you could say the recovery was pretty painless other than that dang internal stitch! Getting my protein in was such a challenge for the first 2 weeks - and getting enough fluids in is STILL hard. Taking my vitamins religiously. Weight dropped super quickly in the first two weeks and now has settled at about the same weight for about 4 days. Maybe my first stall?

Sleeved this past Monday. The first 24 hours were just awful but normal, I guess. Got way better yesterday. I decided to stay the one extra night. Ins paid for it and I wanted to use what attention I could get medically and have a small break before heading home to three young girls. Lol. The incision site where they stiched my muscle, is very sensitive and hurts when I cough/laugh, so I'm looking to get a smaller binder to help put some pressure on it. Gas pain wasn't too bad, just burped everything out. Overall, I feel pretty good. Could use a nap though. Just waiting for my discharge papers. 😊

Day 7 pre-op:

So much easier when I've got work/routine. The weekend was brutal but I made it through. I've got a busy week, so hopefully it'll fly by. 

I'm almost 4 weeks post-op started 369 4/12/2017 surgery and now I'm 328 last weigh in at clinic 5/4/2017 and no setbacks at all but I have problems taking vitamins except for B12

So mostly water yesterday, and some watered down white grape juice for flavor.  I also had about 2 teaspoons of jello - just not hungry.  All liquids were tolerated very well.  Today is full liquids day - so looking forward to trying some of this.  Not sure the difference but when I had my lap-band installed in 2005 - the GAS pains were horrific, the pain in my shoulder from the Gas was agonizing and it lasted for weeks upon end.  With this surgery, very little gas pain, very little pain at all.   Love this thing called the OnQ Pump - it should be given to everyone - works like a charm...  Anyway on to some full liquids...

Had my three month visit with the dietition today. So far, I have lost 41% of my  excess weight. It is nice to see and feel the results of my hard work! I need to get some new shirts since the ones I have now are hanging off me; same with pretty much everything else I own! I'm looking forward to being able to shop at most "normal" stores: Target, Wal-Mart and most stores at the mall. I have never liked clothes shopping so it is hard to get excited about shopping for the first time in 34 years. I am going to hit up Goodwill and the thrift stores first so I am not spending a lot of money on clothes that I am only going to wear for a few months.

Almost 10 months post sleeve, and I have noticed that it's time for me to add in one more lifestyle change on top of my plant based diet.  I have added IF, intermittent fasting, 16:8.  I was going to wait until one year, but it seems as if I've got to a standstill and I've got about 30-40 lbs to lose still.  For those who don't know, IF is not a diet...it's just changing WHEN you eat. I fast for 16 hours (mostly sleeping) and then I eat all my food within 8 hours (or I try to).  I work out during my fast as well for extra benefits.  I implemented it three days ago and I'm down 2 lbs now.  I used to do IF during my obese days and I was successful for three months, changing my body's physique and burning fat, BUT I wasn't successful in my head. I'm sure I probably got injured (as it was always happening then) and I succumbed to emotional eating as I always did.  Now, my head is in a better place, and I'm in control MOST of the time. Still not perfect, and probably never will be, but I'll strive to be so.  So, here's to a Newme...in 2018 too! 

Hi, I had gastric sleeve December 15, 2017. I have been doing great until 2 weeks ago. I have abdominal pain and what seems like gas after eating and sometimes after drinking water. Is this something that will pass or should I look for help?? Thanks everyone.

The week 3 stall is no fun! Come on!!! 

I get to my gym this morning to find a note plastered on the door that they’ll be closed temporarily (like a few months) due to construction needing to be done. Okay, that’s fine. But why didn’t they inform their members in advance? Sigh... Anyway, I have the option to drive clear across town to three other locations, but not sure I want to. Would you drive or suck it up and try and workout at home? 

Hit Onederland this week.  This morning I hit 197.2!  OMG.  I'm pretty sure I was never this light in high school!  I'm so happy!

One week from today!

Question, when I did my lapband, I had to do 3 weeks of liquid diet (I lost 26 lbs)  Someone I know is having the sleeve done and she only had to be on liquid diet one day!. Is this possible? Inquiring minds want to know!

Hello. I am new to this site. I am 50 yrs old and want to get the sleeve. However, my BMI is not quiet high enough to qualify and I do not have any major health issues. I have been on the diet roller coaster since junior high school and have tried pretty much every diet there is and I need HELP! My knees and back are killing me. But I don't think that will be enough for my PCP to give me a referral. I need 25 more lbs to reach a 40 BMI. I have a first appt with my PCP in two weeks and I'm afraid she will not be supportive. Any suggestions or tips that may help sway her decision? Thanks,

Boy has it been a long time since I visited this site!  A lot has happened since my surgery date.  My frequency of use prior to surgery was all thanks to a pretty meaningless desk job that I was laid off of as of December 1.  In the meantime, I have dealt with the triumphs and struggles of recovering from surgery, learning my new stomach and body, and trying to find another full time job.  

Just in case anyone is actually interested in my progress, here it is!  This week is my seventh week since surgery.  HW:  310, SW: 280.1, CW: 254.9  NSVs:  My back fat doesn't rub together while I walk.  I can no longer fit my size 24 skinny jeans, as they have turned out to be more like size 24 baggy jeans.  I have never been more hydrated in my life. I am able to walk up a flight of stairs without wheezing.  I can workout for longer without needing an inhaler.  I have lost countless inches all over my body.  I fit into clothes from my honeymoon in July of 2015 better now than I did then.  

Getting exercise is, and always will be, a work in progress.  Taking my medicines religiously leaves a bit to be desired.  

If anyone is interested in a more in depth description of my recovery, please let me know!  Hope everyone is well!

2 weeks out from surgery and back to work today. I am feeling great and am very blessed that i did not have any complications!

I haven't been on in quite a while, so I thought I would check in.  My weight is down to 173, 7 pounds below goal.  I held at 175 for almost 2 months and randomly dropped 2 pounds a couple of weeks ago.  I had my year follow-up appointment, and my labs were perfect.  Once again, I know that this journey was one of the best decisions of my life, and that I never would have been successful had I not committed myself 100% to changing my relationship with food.  I still follow a keto way of eating and keep my carbs below 25g per day.  I wish everyone the best.  Happy holidays!

Well, I had my last diet visit yesterday and also met with my surgeon and signed the gastric bypass consent form! Time to wait for insurance approval, purchase vitamins and protein shakes/broths, and start getting prepared. I will likely be having surgery some time between February 5 and 16. Due to having surgery in a different city and staying with family for recovery, the only week I would be able to do in January would be the 15th-19th and that would require getting approved within the next 2 weeks, which isn't likely. So.... early February! Between 7 to 8 weeks from now. How did this happen so fast?!