Congratulations to you both...just making the decision to have WLS is a challenge alone. I have been sleeved for 8 months now and I've learned a great deal along the way. The people in this forum are fantastic and provide a really great support system. Information will be key as you start this journey, but misinformation can be a real b$%*! Take the advice from all of us with a grain of salt. When we give our opinion or advice, it is based on our own personal experience. And every doctor and nutritionalist will recommend something different. So always go with what YOUR physician tells you and tweak it if need be. I have tweaked and tinkered at my daily goals and food choices and I know I still haven't landed on that perfect combination that will allow the pounds to just melt away. Tips I have for you:

1) start the diet now! I didn't. People who do the diet before surgery seem to post far better numbers.

2) get protein sample packs now. Try the water based ones too. I really like Syntrax Nectar now, but was also obsessed with Isopure Advanced for a while.

3) get a food scale. this will help with consistency. I found that I would over estimate how much protein I was eating and underestimate fruits and veggies.

4) don't be afraid to fail. I failed several times along. tried things I shouldn't have, didn't exercise as recommended. but I kept moving forward and treated each day individually. if I didn't do so great one day, oh well. I started new the next day or even the next meal. don't hang on to the mentallity of "I'll start over again on Monday," that mentality helped get me to being super morbidly obese.

5) head hunger vs. physical hunger is a fical beast. Early on, get a grip on when you are physically hungry versus when you think you should be hungry. This will save you tons of calories.

6) there is no end to this journey. this is truly a lifestyle change and you will have to proactively and consciously make good food decisions and exercise for the rest of your life. You don't stop once you reach goal.

7) WLS is not a magic bullet. The sleeve works for me because I work my sleeve. I have never thought about food or exercise more in my entire life. More time in each day is devoted to planning meals and exercise. It's not a ton of time, but its more than I ever did in the past. Preplan your meals and make exercise a priority.

I hope some of those things help you as you move forward. Again, this is just what I've learned...more of best practice suggestions. Whether you do these things or forge your own set of tips and tricks, I'm sure you'll find the weight loss success you're looking for. WLS is a tool, you're the solution!

Do you know where we could get free protein pack samples? I have heard they are out there, but I can't find any...

Thanks!

I haven't seen any free ones, but cheap:

About Time has two single serving packs for $3.99 shipped

Syntrax Nectar has a 15 pack of single serves in (I think) all their flavors for $16.99 shipped. It is their monthly special and is a phone order (not available to order on their website)

I think I'll start a topic for folks to add specials when they find them.

Rob

If you are looking at other weight loss surgeries try the other boards that have Gastric Bypass or Lap Band as part of the title so you can see what they have to say too. This board is people who have had or are planning to have the gastric sleeve, so that's what you will hear about here.

I chose the sleeve because to me this really seems like the more "natural" of the choices. Simply put, the sleeve removes the stretchy part of your stomach. Nothing is disconnected, reconnected (think gastric bypass), rerouted, or left behind (think Lap Band). Each surgeon does it slightly different. Mine removed ALL the stretchy part, so as he explained to me, I can never re-stretch my stomach. I love that! However, please know, that does not mean I can go back to old eating habits and no exercise and expect to maintain my loss. If I do that I will regain, slowly, but I will regain.

Someone else here said this is a tool and that's very true. None of the surgeries are easy and non of them are a magic solution. They are all tools. Use the tool wisely and you will lose the excess weight and keep it off. Ignore the tool and go back to old eating habits and no exercise and you will stop losing and regain.

I looked at WLS for years before I finally got honest with myself that I couldn't do it on my own. Then I got serious about finding the right one for me. This lifestyle is now my new normal. Although it's not easy, it's very doable. And this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. My only regret is that I waited so long to do this.