1 Month Post Op

Been a month since I had my surgery and I can definitely say everything is going a lot better than it used to. No more medications, no more guzzling water, no more shortness of breath, and no more hunger all the time. It's not easy but I am motivated to lose the weight and be healthy. Doing a lot of walking on the threadmill, I do a mile and a half a day, 5 days a week.  I hit a plateau on the third week (which is common after a weight loss surgery) and got really upset since I was weighing myself multiple times a day so I decided to just weigh myself once a month. Sorry to let you all know that I don't have an update on my actual weight but I have pictures to show you some improvement.  I had to drill another hole on my belt since it is already too big on me, I definitely lost inches. 

 Here are some before and now photos of me. I asked my 4 year old son what the difference is between the photo on the left and the photo on the right. He was telling all the stuff about the color of the shirt is different, the belt is not showing, the one arm is not showing, the hair is lighter etc. So finally he got to the weight and he said "the one belly is big and full and the other one is small!" It was really good to hear that coming from my son and he added "the one is mad and the other one is happy", that is true for sure, I am a lot happier now than I used to.

Here's another comparison from side view

It's a lot of work but seeing the difference keeps me going. I started a food journal (My Fitness Pal) to track my food and calorie intake everyday. I measure my meals and count my water intake, count calories I burned with physical activity. Right after surgery I could only do 1.7 mph on the threadmill with no incline and I could only do 20 minutes. Now I'm up to 2.5 mph and incline set on 10 and can do at least 45 minutes which is around 500 calories burned. As for my meals I can eat up to 4 ounces of soft foods and no more sweets. Here's my daily nutritional needs:

Fluid - at least 64 oz (no soda and caffeine)
Protein - 80g
Carbohydrates - 30g
Calories - 800
Fat - 13g
Sometimes it is still hard to get all my nutrition since I don't feel hungy/thirsty and keeping a food journal really helps track how much more I need.
Weight loss is not just a change in eating but a change in lifestyle.

Thanks for following my updates, hope you all have a good week!
Joe

Progress Photo

Just want to share a photo of me taken 3 months apart. Can you see the difference? 

Hit My First Weight Loss Goal (3 Week Post-Op)

Since my freshman year in Highschool I've always been in the 300s and no matter what kind of dieting I did (Weight Watchers, Atkins, Slim Fast, South Beach, you name it) I would just get in the low 300s but never pass under 300. My first short-term goal for my weight loss is to be under 300 lbs. Today, after 17 long years, is a big milestone for me.

I did it! I hit my first goal. I can say I'm officially not a 300 pounder anymore.  I actually had a stall which is common on the 3rd week after surgery and I was stuck at 300 even for 4 days. I know you're not supposed to weigh yourself everyday but I was just too excited to get to my goal I was rushing to find out. 

Also been doing good with recovery from my surgery, I started going to the gym to do a 30-minute walk on the threadmill three times last week. As for my diet, I'm done with the full liquids and now am able to eat soft/mushy foods like mashed potatoes, ground meats, mashed vegetables, tuna in water, soft cheese and can do 3oz at a time now. Liquid intake is at least 64 oz a day as to not get dehydrated. 

I got to see my surgeon last week for my 2 week post-op and he is really happy about my weight loss and recovery. I have not taken any medications since last week since I do not need them anymore and my sugar levels are now controlled. Also my belt is already too loose so I tried to punch a new hole through and it was such a project so I just used a drill and it's so much easier.

Total Weight Loss: 
55 lbs

What is Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG)

The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, also known as Sleeve Gastrectomy or Vertical Gastrectomy,  generates weight loss by restricting the amount of food (and therefore calories) that can be eaten by removing 85% or more of the stomach without bypassing the intestines or causing any gastrointestinal malabsorption.  It is a purely restrictive operation.

This procedure generates weight loss solely through gastric restriction (reduced stomach volume). The stomach is restricted by stapling and dividing it vertically and removing more than 85% of it. This part of the procedure is not reversible. The stomach that remains is shaped like a very slim banana and measures from 1-5 ounces (30-150cc), depending on the surgeon performing the procedure. The nerves to the stomach and the outlet valve (pylorus) remain intact with the idea of preserving the functions of the stomach while drastically reducing the volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big will my stomach be after surgery?

The size of your stomach will vary depending on the surgeon. All surgeons use a tube to guide them when stapling the stomach. This tube size can vary from 1-2 ounces to as large as 6-8 ounces. This is a very important question to ask when considering this surgery, since those patients with larger pouches may have less weight loss.

Is removing the stomach safe?
This type of stomach removal has been performed with the Duodenal Switch procedure since the mid 1980’s.  It does involve stapling, just like in the gastric bypass and has similar risks. Interestingly, patients do not ever return asking for their stomach back but many do wonder if it is possible to reduce the size of it again. 

Will I need to take vitamins?
Vitamin deficiencies are rare with this procedure because there is no intestinal bypass. However, the procedure is very restrictive so most surgeons recommend that patients take a multivitamin, calcium and possibly a B12 vitamin after surgery.

Will I regain weight?
All patients undergoing weight loss surgery are at risk for weight regain. None of the operations can prevent this. Those patients who maintain good dietary habits and exercise patterns are more likely to keep the weight off than those who do not exercise and who snack frequently.

What will my diet be like after surgery?
The diet will progress over the first year. It usually starts with 2-4 weeks of liquid protein drinks and water.  Patients gradually progress to thicker food items and by two months are able to eat seafood, eggs, cheese and other regular foods. The diet generally recommended is low calorie (500 per day), high protein (70gm per day), low fat (30 gm per day) and low carbohydrates (40 gm per day). The calorie intake increases over the first year and by 12 months many patients have achieved their goal weight and consume between 900 and 1500 calories per day. This final calorie intake depends on level of activity, age and gender(men can usually consume more calories and maintain their weight).

Source: http://www.obesityhelp.com