Q: Can one lose 200 lbs+ with VSG????

Hi everyone!

It has been quite a while since I've been an active participant on the boards, but I am definitely back. I'm happy to see all of the new people posting. My surgery date is finally near, thank GOD, after all that I have been through. Now for the question...

For those of you who have had to loose a large amount of weight with VSG, close to or over 200 lbs, how on earth did you do it??? What was your diet and exercise regimen like? I know I'm going to have to work hard to get it done, but there's nothing that's going to keep me from getting to where I need to be. Could you please share your secrets? Also, did you have skin removed? If so, did your insurance cover it, which one?

PLEASE HELP, I'm getting kind of nervous

Thanks!

Yes. Several folks have. It's harder than losing 100 lbs, that's for sure.

I've lost 184. Will my input help?

1 High protein, low carb (I built up to over 100g a day)
2 800 or so calories a day during loss
3 Lots of liquids - I built up to 100 oz+ a day. Be sipping all day long - it fends off the munchies.
4 Move - even walking will help
5 Log - I use myfitnesspal.com

6 And the most important advice I can give you: Plan what you'll eat, eat what you plan. I make (still make, not used to make) a plan every morning and enter it into my food log. That's my eating plan for the day. During loss, that's what I ate, period. Now I make substitutions but any food gets logged before I eat it.

The planning does several things: It makes you think things through ahead. I never have a case of OMG I ate that without realizing how many calories/carbs because everything is logged BEFORE I eat it. I didn't have days where I got to the end of the day and realize I didn't have enough protein because I had planned it out the night before or in the morning. It also helps avoid impulse eating in two ways: First, if it's not in the plan, I didn't eat it. Second, the act of logging that brownie and discovering it's 300+ calories can make it seem a lot less appealing.

And you got there in 9 1/2 months?! Wow! Congratulations! Thank you so much for your input. I will definitely get myfitnesspal and take your advice!

To be fair - 9 1/2 months was from my surgery weight of 296 (I lost 23 on the pre-op diet) to my goal weight of 175) or 121 lbs.

Start of pre-op to goal weight (144 lbs) was 11 months. Start of pre-op to roughly current weight (the whole 184) was about 14 months.

It takes hard work and good focus but it can certainly be done!  I have lost 212 pounds now....and well on my way to the 240 pounds that I want to lose (my final goal is 150) but only 16 pounds away from a healthy BMI currently!

I have done this by sticking to 600-800 calories a day, drinking drinking drinking water like it's going out of style, and keeping my carbs between 20-40 grams a day.  In addition to this I aim to be ABOVE 80 grams of protein a day.

Good luck!  You can do it! 

Thanks so much Pink! It seems like I basically have to stick to the diet. Did you exercise as well?

It is very possible.... many here have done well......

But to be very real..... many have not..... most that have not..... aren't here anymore.....

There are many components to this process and we all have different needs and combination of needs.....

Here are some key points that may or may not effect your/anyones out come.

WL and long term success for the SMO is very difficult but very attainable.

- Choose a surgeon that has done well with the SMO..... a surgeon that has a high percentage of SMO patients that lose and maintain a goal weight at or near a normal BMI..... not 50% EWL like the average.

- A proper VSG that will give you maximum long term restriction.

- Education and after care.

- Commitment and compliance

The bottom line...... It's gonna be all you......

frisco

Those I know that have lost have all exercised. That you will have to do for sure.  I haven't lost 200 pounds but my current loss is 164 pounds.  It wasn't all with VSG either.  It started with making one change at a time.  It was slow and now almost seems so normal.  You have to track you food as well.  You will learn what makes you gain and how you can lose.  I myself have to stay under 40 carbs a day and keep calories from 600-800.  I have to exercise five times a week.  Really it's a very individual thing.  You will have to work to change.  Support is very important so stick around here.   sleevegirl and acbbrown have both lost over 200 pounds and are active members on here.  It is very possible but you have to work for it.

Yes, you can.

I'm 18 months out and still losing, I'm not the fastest turtle out there, but I'm still going :) I do a lot of work for it and I still keep calories low, carbs low and protein high. Honestly, it's hard work... the biggest thing I do is therapy and food logging :)

Oh Yeah JuucyOne, My Son who posts on here lost just over 300 pounds.  He was self-pay.  He had a tummy tuck and some other skin removal.  He exercised quite a bit right after surgery and hired a trainer for help.  Anyhow it can be done, go for it.