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New To Vst... Hello!



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Hello all!

I'm a new member here at VST. I'm in the "considering WLS" stage. I'm leaning toward doing it, and I'll be going to my required first "seminar" with the bariatric surgeon that my PCP referred me to.in just a couple of days.

(Odd that "bariatric" trips up spell check here!)

I've decided to actually do a blog on my - it seems that everyone is calling it this - journey. Other blogs that I found last week mostly began at the point of actually having had the surgery. See the link in my signature and tell me what you think.

I'll try to keep the rambling there :)

Is it just me, or are there hardly any men here? Is that because that many more women are doing WLS, or that we just don't largely "talk" about it?

I look forward to connecting with you!

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Welcome and good luck during your journey.

There are men on here and there is a Man's Room Forum. But, yes there are a bunch of us gals.

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Welcome! This is a great site,full of information,pretty sure you can find an answer to every question you could possiably have here lol. Everone is VERY supportive since most of us are in your situation or have already had the surgery. And to answer your question regarding there not being much men here....it's true. I think because most men can't ask for driving directions so to ask for support well...I think you understand lol But the few that are on here are very kind and supportive too. Good luck to you on your Journey (yes, it will be a journey)and it's well worth it. Oh, and if you begin to blog it is best to do it now so that you can look back later to track your own progress. If you have any questions I am more then happy to answer. Best of luck.

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welcome!! ,I read ur blog it was great! I wish u luck on ur journey and cant wait to read more!

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I think because most men can't ask for driving directions so to ask for support well...I think you understand lol

Ouch! Though it's funny only because it's true! LOL

welcome!! ,I read ur blog it was great! I wish u luck on ur journey and cant wait to read more!

Thank you. I just posted my second post. I hope it's not too self indulgent, but I want to get it all of my chest... just just off my belly!

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Welcome to the board. Im new myself, and have started my WLS journey. Its a long road but well worth it.

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Welcome, John! I appreciated reading your blog so much. I can relate a lot with your latchkey kid stories...especially the: go to school, come home, flip on the tube, snack, commercial, more Snacks, and repeat...lol. I'm also in the pre-surgery stages, and also a BIG TIME researcher. Medical journals, online support groups, seminars, you name it! I wish you well in your, yes - "journey". I've been on the boards for about a month now, and it's been such a great resource for info and caring support...and even a laugh or two :)

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Welcome to the site bro. there are men here we are just out numbered. i would guess that women probably have this surgery more than men. when i went to the seminar last year it was 3 women to each man. This is a great site for men and women. the man room is here. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/50-the-man-room/

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I GO FOR THE PRE-OP TESTS ON THE 19TH....BEEN ON HERE ALMOST A MONTH MYSELF...AND FOUND EVERYONE HONEST AND HELPFUL AND GENEROUS WITH SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES......I SOMETIMES READ THE POSTS AND THINK I SEE THINGS DIFFERENT THEN OTHERS..BUT I GUESS THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND............ALL THE BEST WITH THE "journey" AND WELCOME!

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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