POSTED UNDER Gastric Sleeve Surgery REVIEWS
Finally Made the Decision to Do This ~ Gastric Sleeve - Tijuana, MX
ORIGINAL POST
As so many before me, I'm tired of the yo-yo'ing...
skylarmoonFebruary 22, 2016
$4,900
As so many before me, I'm tired of the yo-yo'ing weight. A few years ago, I lost a little over 60lbs just by counting calories. A small injury that had nothing to do with eating sidetracked me and I gained all of it back plus some. I just went on about my business over the years not paying much attention to my weight or the scale. I knew what I needed to do to try and lose weight but had absolutely no motivation to do so. Being tired all the time puts you in a catch 22 and it sucks.
After weighing myself a little over a month ago and seeing that 378 number on the scale, I realized I need help. If I don't get help now, I may not be here tomorrow. I decided to try and adopt a Paleo way of eating as it's the closest to the way I want to eat. I'm not 100% there but have lost 18lbs. I want to try and lose another 40lbs before surgery so my BMI will be below 50. If not, I'll have to add another $350 to my surgery price. Even more important than the money, I want to do it so I'm that much healthier going into surgery.
Because of my researching over the past year to year and a half, I was able to easily choose the doctor and location of where I wanted to go. I have scheduled my surgery for June 24, 2016. I've reached out to the patient coordinator and asked her to have the nutritionist get in contact with me. I'm 4 months away but feel it's important to know the nutritional expectations for both pre and post-op. I'm ahead of the game in that I've already gone through my sugar and caffeine withdrawals since starting the Paleo way of eating. That will only serve to help me with the headaches and other symptoms others get as a result of cutting these two items out of their diets.
The only thing I think I may struggle with at this point is when I'm not downing Diet Cokes (I'm not anymore) I drink at least a gallon of water a day. Don't think I'll be able to do that post-op. :/ I don't have high blood sugar or diabetes so that isn't the reason. It's just always been this way when I've cut out the diet sodas.
Anyway, although I've been an "official" member here since August 2015, this is my first post. I enjoy reading your own experiences and look forward to adding mine. :)
BTW...my starting weight was 378. As of this morning I'm at 360 and hoping to be closer to 324 by 6/24/16.
After weighing myself a little over a month ago and seeing that 378 number on the scale, I realized I need help. If I don't get help now, I may not be here tomorrow. I decided to try and adopt a Paleo way of eating as it's the closest to the way I want to eat. I'm not 100% there but have lost 18lbs. I want to try and lose another 40lbs before surgery so my BMI will be below 50. If not, I'll have to add another $350 to my surgery price. Even more important than the money, I want to do it so I'm that much healthier going into surgery.
Because of my researching over the past year to year and a half, I was able to easily choose the doctor and location of where I wanted to go. I have scheduled my surgery for June 24, 2016. I've reached out to the patient coordinator and asked her to have the nutritionist get in contact with me. I'm 4 months away but feel it's important to know the nutritional expectations for both pre and post-op. I'm ahead of the game in that I've already gone through my sugar and caffeine withdrawals since starting the Paleo way of eating. That will only serve to help me with the headaches and other symptoms others get as a result of cutting these two items out of their diets.
The only thing I think I may struggle with at this point is when I'm not downing Diet Cokes (I'm not anymore) I drink at least a gallon of water a day. Don't think I'll be able to do that post-op. :/ I don't have high blood sugar or diabetes so that isn't the reason. It's just always been this way when I've cut out the diet sodas.
Anyway, although I've been an "official" member here since August 2015, this is my first post. I enjoy reading your own experiences and look forward to adding mine. :)
BTW...my starting weight was 378. As of this morning I'm at 360 and hoping to be closer to 324 by 6/24/16.
skylarmoon's provider
Replies (4)
UPDATED FROM skylarmoon
3 months pre
Trying to get healthier before surgery date in June 2016
skylarmoonMarch 11, 2016
Good morning my fellow weight loss friends! :)
Just thought I'd update my journey this morning. I started trying to eat closer to a Paleo diet 1/18/16 and did a weigh in at work this a.m. Down 22lbs! I want to try and start incorporating my treadmill and resistance bands now as my goal is to lose another 40-ish pounds before surgery 1/23/16.
I bought some whey protein drinks and talk about gag worthy. That's $35 down the drain! I should be receiving the IsoPure Zero Carb ones today and I'm hoping they'll taste better than what I tried last night. I have never been a protein shake fan and I'm hoping to find something I like leading up to surgery. From what I've read, taste can change after surgery so this will probably be a really long search. I also bought some grass fed whey protein powder that is for the most part, tasteless. I made a green smoothie (1 kiwi, 1/2 pear, 1 frozen banana, 2 kale leaves, 1 cup of coconut water, 1/3 cup of ice *Note: The 2nd time I made this I removed the Kiwi and added a kale leaf. Both times I added a little more coconut water so it isn't so thick) and added the powder to it. Changed the taste a little but not so bad I couldn't drink it. Not sure I'd be able to drink these post sleeve because of the sipping. We'll see.
I hope everyone is doing well on their journey.
Just thought I'd update my journey this morning. I started trying to eat closer to a Paleo diet 1/18/16 and did a weigh in at work this a.m. Down 22lbs! I want to try and start incorporating my treadmill and resistance bands now as my goal is to lose another 40-ish pounds before surgery 1/23/16.
I bought some whey protein drinks and talk about gag worthy. That's $35 down the drain! I should be receiving the IsoPure Zero Carb ones today and I'm hoping they'll taste better than what I tried last night. I have never been a protein shake fan and I'm hoping to find something I like leading up to surgery. From what I've read, taste can change after surgery so this will probably be a really long search. I also bought some grass fed whey protein powder that is for the most part, tasteless. I made a green smoothie (1 kiwi, 1/2 pear, 1 frozen banana, 2 kale leaves, 1 cup of coconut water, 1/3 cup of ice *Note: The 2nd time I made this I removed the Kiwi and added a kale leaf. Both times I added a little more coconut water so it isn't so thick) and added the powder to it. Changed the taste a little but not so bad I couldn't drink it. Not sure I'd be able to drink these post sleeve because of the sipping. We'll see.
I hope everyone is doing well on their journey.
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM skylarmoon
20 days pre
20 days until my VSG!
skylarmoonJune 3, 2016
Thought I'd check in since I haven't in a while. I am 20 days away from actual surgery with Dr. Alejandro Lopez in TJ, Mexico. Surgery is already paid for. I am down 44 lbs from where I started and need to lose another 10 lbs before surgery date to avoid the up charge for being over a 50 bmi.
I start my pre-op diet next Wednesday which consists of 1 meal with a serving of protein and salad as well as protein shakes for the other 2 meals. I'm allowed additional vegetables if I get hungry. Liquid diet starts a week after that, only clear liquids and protein drinks.
So far I am not nervous, more excited than anything.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! :)
I start my pre-op diet next Wednesday which consists of 1 meal with a serving of protein and salad as well as protein shakes for the other 2 meals. I'm allowed additional vegetables if I get hungry. Liquid diet starts a week after that, only clear liquids and protein drinks.
So far I am not nervous, more excited than anything.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! :)
Replies (3)
June 3, 2016
Just wanted to add that I have to stop taking my vitamins (been using the bariatricpal store patches since 4/5/16) when I start the pre-op diet. That's sooooo going to suck because they're what help me get through the without feeling so fatigued. Blah! :)
June 28, 2016
How did it go? I am scheduled for the same surgery with Dr. Lopez in October.
June 28, 2016
Other than a little tired, things are going good so far. My roommate at the hospital and I even walked to the Wal-Mart which is about a block and a half away from the hospital the day after surgery. Only pain I felt was from the drain. Once they took that out on Saturday I felt instantly better. Everyone is so nice and just awesome. The team will come in before surgery and introduce themselves and go through the process with you so you understand.
On a side note, I so need to get the recipe of the recovery boutique's chicken broth. That stuff was beyond delicious! :)
On a side note, I so need to get the recipe of the recovery boutique's chicken broth. That stuff was beyond delicious! :)
Hi there, and welcome! Thanks for sharing your story with us. I hope you'll get lots of support from the community. You are doing really well on the Paleo diet. Will you come back and update us as you get nearer to your surgery date?
Thank you for the welcome!
I will absolutely be updating my progress, including leading up to surgery. For me, this is about accountability and one day I'll be able to look back on this when things are rough as a reminder to how far I've come.
That's great! If you're documenting your journey from start to finish, it won't just help you, but it will help others who are considering this procedure. Thank you so much for sharing!