Hey Devi,
I just had my Surgery last Tuesday. I am very grateful I had it done. That day came and went so quick it was pretty amazing. I took my 12 week classes from Keiser and to be honest they answered any questions prior to me moving forward. I did have a moment right after the surgery questioning my decision. But that was because my little busy mind does that some times.
My recovery took less than a day and 1/2 I got out of the hospital earlier than I expected. Got home and once I started walking more and getting rid of the Gas in my body I was ok.
I am sure they warned us about that in class but I didn't remember it and yeh that was the only thing that concerned me. Luckily I had my Mom and Dad who had been through it before to guide me through the stuff I was going through. Nothing major just stuff.
Anyway as you get closer keep in touch Maybe I can answer stuff for you. Right now I am dealing with Constipation something I wasn't expecting because of being on liquid protein for the last month. 2 weeks prior to surgery and now a week after. That parts not so bad but having this little issue was something I wasn't ready for at first.
I could go on here and right a book but you get the idea!
Jim

Hi. I was sleeved 3.5 years ago and other than losing slowly and stalling often, this has gone about the way I expected it to. The only thing I would have changed is what I was given in the hospital for nutrition after the surgery. I am more of a savory person, prefer food to sweets 99% of the time. After surgery they gave me Ungery shakes and I needed to drink two 8 ounce shakes a day. I couldn't force down one! Too sweet and too thick. If I had of known this, I would have discussed with my surgeon having Ungery beef and/or chicken broth instead. I actually had an extra day in the hospital because they were concerned about me getting no nutrition. So, if you have opreferences like that, make sure to talk to your doctor about it before you go in for surgery.

Get one of those back support pillows that let you sit up in bed. Someone told me it's called a husband pillow. It wraps around you sort of. Because in the first few weeks you have to stay sitting up for at least and hour after drinking and all you're going to want to do is lay down but you can't. That is one thing I wish I knew before I had surgery. Also invest in a few bottles of Children's liquid motrin. I went through a bottle of that a day. I felt very ill taking the liquid narcotic that was prescribed so I lived on Children's Motrin. Costco has the best deal in a 2 bottle pack. You'll need a few of those.

I have no regrets, and I was well prepared by the staff of the center where my procedure was performed. I would have the surgery again, without hesitation. If there was one thing I wish I had known, it would be this: the pain meds I took after the surgery constipated my badly, the worst I've ever experienced. Over a year after the surgery, and I still take a softener daily.

TheBitSlinger wrote: »

I guess there's one other thing I should add. In the last year, I've added a lot of new muscle from weight lifting.

THIS!!!!!! You will lose "weight" very rapidly, but what people mean when they say they want to lose "weight" is that they want to lose "fat"... But "weight" means fat AND muscle. You DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MUSCLE. That means get your protein (MORE THAN THEY TELL YOU) but more importantly - lift weights, or do progressive weight bearing exercise.
-
- Muscle consumes calories! Losing muscle is the main reason people "only" lose about 60% of their excess fat after a year or so and stall - they lose so much muscle their base metabolism gets lower, but they are able to eat more... eventually the calories in meets the (lowered) calories out. Keep up your muscle and you will lose weight more consistently longer and lose more weight in the end and more than likely meet your goal. You also will not have to worry as much about regain, as your BMR will be high enough it will be a challenge to out-eat it.
-
- Muscle gives your body shape! Many people who lose weight too quickly end up with a flat butt (do a search for threads on how your butt hurts to sit after WLS!) - your butt is a muscle! And they end up with skeletal shoulders and arms because the fat tends to melt from movable parts first, and unused muscle atrophies. BUT - they still end up with all the fat around the middle and hips in the end because that is generally the last place it comes off (esp women) and by then you hit your equilibrium. They are the definition of "skinny fat".
-
- Keep all the muscle you have. Do not wait until you lose all your weight to start a lifting or weight bearing program. It is MUCH easier to keep what you already have than to get it back once you lose it. You are carrying around an extra hundred (or whatever) pounds now, so you already have some good muscle - do not let it go! You may appear to be losing slower on the scale if you dont, but you will lose inches faster and be MUCH happier with your appearance in the end!!!
-
- Read up on it, get started NOW. I wasted a good year or two and went through regain and all before I learned my lesson. I really wish I had started out lifting!
-
- Good luck!

Hi! I had my VSG on 11/19. I don't regret it at all. The only thing I wasn't prepared for was the constipation. I wish I had a stool softener purchased and ready when I needed it. I also found that for the first couple of weeks or so, I felt better when I slept inclined instead of flat. Thankfully I have an electric recliner sofa so I could recline but still be inclined to sleep. It helped get rid of the little bit of reflux I experienced right after surgery.

aylajane wrote: »

TheBitSlinger wrote: »

I guess there's one other thing I should add. In the last year, I've added a lot of new muscle from weight lifting.

THIS!!!!!! You will lose "weight" very rapidly, but what people mean when they say they want to lose "weight" is that they want to lose "fat"... But "weight" means fat AND muscle. You DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MUSCLE. That means get your protein (MORE THAN THEY TELL YOU) but more importantly - lift weights, or do progressive weight bearing exercise.
-
- Muscle consumes calories! Losing muscle is the main reason people "only" lose about 60% of their excess fat after a year or so and stall - they lose so much muscle their base metabolism gets lower, but they are able to eat more... eventually the calories in meets the (lowered) calories out. Keep up your muscle and you will lose weight more consistently longer and lose more weight in the end and more than likely meet your goal. You also will not have to worry as much about regain, as your BMR will be high enough it will be a challenge to out-eat it.
-
- Muscle gives your body shape! Many people who lose weight too quickly end up with a flat butt (do a search for threads on how your butt hurts to sit after WLS!) - your butt is a muscle! And they end up with skeletal shoulders and arms because the fat tends to melt from movable parts first, and unused muscle atrophies. BUT - they still end up with all the fat around the middle and hips in the end because that is generally the last place it comes off (esp women) and by then you hit your equilibrium. They are the definition of "skinny fat".
-
- Keep all the muscle you have. Do not wait until you lose all your weight to start a lifting or weight bearing program. It is MUCH easier to keep what you already have than to get it back once you lose it. You are carrying around an extra hundred (or whatever) pounds now, so you already have some good muscle - do not let it go! You may appear to be losing slower on the scale if you dont, but you will lose inches faster and be MUCH happier with your appearance in the end!!!
-
- Read up on it, get started NOW. I wasted a good year or two and went through regain and all before I learned my lesson. I really wish I had started out lifting!
-
- Good luck!

THIS!! at 146 I am skinny fat and slowly rebuilding muscle. I should have done 20 min of wt training every day-especially abs and butt

Mangopickle wrote: »

And, sadly I knew better

The good news is that we do not have to be defined by failures or misses.