Advice for Relatively Newly Sleeved VSG Folks ...

[Ann2]

We have a lot of new folks around here lately asking a lot of new-folks questions as they are trying to navigate their brand new sleeves. Welcome, y'all.

I'm 7 months and nearly 3 weeks post-op. I've lost 81 pounds and have 4 more pounds to go before reaching goal. My sleeved life has, thus far, been a piece 'o cake. I had a great surgeon, no complications, and have amaze-balls support in the form of my husband who thinks I rock. Otherwise, I'm on the down low about having had WLS, so this forum has been a big source of support for me.

Here's my advice to folks who are newly sleeved. Others around here who've been sleeved for a while will surely have their own advice. I hope they'll weigh in on this thread, too.

Q: Please tell me I won't always feel this bad.
A: No you won't always feel this bad. Really. I promise.

Q: Why am I so tired?
A: 1. You're recovering from major surgery. 2. And/or you're not drinking nearly enough water. 3. And/or when you can eat more (after a month or two, at least 800 calories) you'll be able to get some actual energy from your food; be sure and include good carbs in your diet (Greek yogurt, skim milk, cheese, green and colored veggies and fruits), which will give your body and your brain energy. 4. Take all your vitamins and minerals every single day. For some weird reason, not everyone thinks they need to do this. But you really do, which is why your surgeon said to do so.

Q: I'm not getting enough water. How can I get more water?
A: 1. Put some non-calorie flavoring in it (Mio drops, Crystal Lite, diet cranberry juice with only 10 calories/12 ounces, etc. 2. Keep water with you at all times and sip it throughout the day. 3. Drink herbal tea throughout the day. 4. Buck up and just drink your damn water!

Q: When should I start exercising?
A: Now. Whatever you're doing, do more of it, even if it's just 10 more steps each day. Walking is great. If you can run, go for it. Ditto re bicycling. Basically, just move your ass. Strength training is also wonderful; it builds muscle, which burns up more calories than fat, which is a good thing. Moving more may be hard because, if you're like most of us, you haven't moved much for a long time. So just do a little more this week than you did last week and do more next week than you did this week. Eventually, you'll have a whole new lifestyle going on. You'll discover that when you're not 100 or more pounds overweight, exercise feels so good it's its own reward.

Q: Why am I losing so slowly? Everyone else is losing 30 pounds a month!
A: No, they're not. And if someone actually is, they were a lot heavier than you were to start with. And he's a guy. And he's 19 years old. I'm 69 years old, a woman, and weighed 235 two months before surgery when I put myself on a pre-op diet. In the last 10 months I've lost a total of 81 pounds. That's a little more than 8 pounds a month. I think I'm a freakin' weight-losing champ! This ain't gonna happen overnight.

Q: I'm afraid I've stretched my sleeve.
A: No, you haven't.

Q: I'm so hungry. Why don't I feel any restriction?
A: If you are still on a liquid diet you won't feel much restriction until you start eating actual food, because liquids just go right through your tummy fast. If you're already eating food and are still hungry, chances are you're not (a) eating enough protein or (b) eating protein first. Protein stays in your stomach longer than any other kind of food and makes you feel incredibly satisfied. One other possibility is that your stomach may be producing too much acid, which can mimic hunger sensations. If so, you will need an antacid Rx or a STRONGER antacid Rx than you're already taking. Talk to your surgeon who will fix you up.

Q: I crave carbs. What am I doing wrong?
A: You crave carbs because you're eating too many carbs and the wrong kind of carbs -- slider foods, we call 'em. Eating those kinds of highly processed slider foods (crackers, breads, chips, starchy veggies, pastas, sugars, desserts, etc.) just makes you crave more of them. You've got to cold turkey that crap and lay off of it while you're in weight-losing mode. Seriously ... you're going to waste this opportunity to get your life back because you can't quit eating Wheat Thins? Stop buying it. Keep it out of the house. Keep it off of your desk at work. Instead, eat protein.

Q: Oy vey! I've stalled. The scale hasn't moved in two weeks, one week, three days, the last two hours!
A: If you're freaking out because the scales haven't moved lately, stop weighing yourself. And keep doing what you're supposed to be doing. And if you're not doing what you're supposed to be doing, start doing what you're supposed to be doing.

I wish you all the best on your WLS journey. You really can do this. Thousands of others have had success. My two cents' worth is that you should just simply follow your surgeon's instructions. And keep it simple.

[niki k]

Thanks Ann

[Numbers]

What Ann said :-)

I am 3.3 months post op. Listen to Ann, she rocks!

[beachgirl22851]

Love it!

[charity69]

thanks you helpt

[jmw]

Yep, Ann nailed it!

I do want to touch on one point. Stalls. What is a stall? Not losing today, when you normally drop a little each day is not a stall. A stall is 2-3 weeks of the scale not budging. And, if that happens, shake it up! Maybe you need more water, more or different exercises, to change up your diet- add a little more protein-rich foods, maybe more calories, more fats, etc.

Take pictures at each stage, once a month. Same with measurements. It is another way to measure your progress and will be blown away by the changes.

Enjoy the ride. It seems like forever, and while you are in the beginning stages, it feels all-encompassing. At 13 months out, I can say that it feels like a lifetime ago that I got sleeved. My sleeve factors very little in my day to day life and hasn't for months. I just do what I do and enjoy the ride.

[Lee6Lee]

Thanks, Ann. We need eloquent advice on here. It's been a parched desert lately!

P.S. The part about the stomach acid....so true. It will mimic hunger and will also make you nervous and stress eat. I've just begun taking another Prilosec in the evening, as well, and I feel so much better in general!

[Eve13]

Thank you, Ann. Some of those questions are definitely mine and you answered them clearly, with sense, and with humor. I swear to you I will start to drink more water this very day.

[chicklit72]

What a great post. I'm just about 3 weeks out and any and all advice is worth reading. I know it's a process we are on and it's great having folks to walk along with on this journey. Thanks for taking the time to share!

[Mem]

Yet again amazing advice!!!! God Bless...mem

[stargazerlily]

Thank you kindly, Ann!!! I appreciate your words of wisdom & I have already started drinking more water =0) In this journey we all need each other & your words were definitely taken to heart.

[Philabethie2016]

The few issues I've had since having surgery - and really, it's been an easy ride for me so far - have been fixed by upping my water.

Constipation, any small bouts of nausea, low energy levels, how many pounds I lose per week or getting over a stall. Everything does exactly what it should when I drink enough water. If I don't get the water in, I start having little problems here and there.

So, amen to the water drinking!

[CMG214]

Ann,

Thanks so much for this post. I'm hoping for a May surgery date and it's nice to see your posts. I read your comments on other posts and I can tell you really want to help and have an AWESOME delivery! Maybe you should do a Q&A monthly or more of your observations b/c this is what everyone from people like me that haven't had surgery yet, to those that need reinforcement need to hear. I will definitely be prepared for the stomach acid mimicking hunger! Awesome job and I look forward to more posts like this from you!

[overdoneit]

Thanks Ann!
I haven't been sleeved yet, but confirmed yesterday that my surgeon has received my paperwork and has contacted my insurance. I was 100% ready until I had a bad dream last night about how much I missed being able to eat what I want, now I'm having doubts. Is this normal too? The surgery part doesn't scare me, it's the 'doing without' what I want to eat that scares me. But I also fear my future If I don't do it. I think I might also be afraid of failing and gaining the weight back. Thank you for sharing.

[mrf0418]

Ann you are the best. This should be the first post on the site for everyone to see. Great information!